The tussle over religious discrimination legislation – and the right of religious schools to discriminate against LGBTQ staff and students – continues today.
Earlier,Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hinted to Labor MPs that he would be willing to work with the Greens,not just the Coalition,to get the government’s bill through,as long as it didn’t turn into a long debate.
But Greens senator David Shoebridge has called the government’s bluff,given crossbenchers have been saying since last week they but have not been given a copy of the bill.
“I’ve just come out of a briefing with the attorney-general on religious discrimination. And unfortunately,the Labor government is still refusing to share their draft legislation on ending religious discrimination in schools with the Greens,the crossbench and,indeed,with the Australian public,” he said this afternoon.
“We have one set of interests,and only one set of interests,in this. It’s not political games with Labor. It’s about protecting queer and trans kids from being discriminated against at school. It’s about living up to Labor’s election commitment and ensuring that schools are welcoming and positive places for every kid to be a student. And we’ll do what it takes to get those laws through.
“But if Labor’s not even willing to share their draft legislation,well,how much faith can we put in the prime minister’s words?”
He suggested the Greens would be willing to compromise on the specific recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission if the changes were justified.
“Of course,that may involve some horse-trading and some negotiation. But you can’t trade horses unless somebody brings one to the table,” he said.