July 30, 2025 – The NT Government has introduced legislation that weakens hate speech protections and opens the door to discrimination in religious schools, say unions and equality groups.
The NT’s Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 was finally strengthened and brought in line with community expectations in 2023.
But rights and protections in the Act will be wound back under legislation introduced to NT parliament on Wednesday, including removing existing protections against hate speech and replacing them with an incitement-based legal test.
There is also a broad exemption that imposes a wide-ranging ‘conduct’ requirements on all staff on the grounds of religious belief or activity.
Equality Australia Legal Director Heather Corkhill:
“We know from experiences in other states that the incitement-based legal test is completely ineffective against even some of the worst kinds of hate speech.
“At a time when hate is increasing around the country, including the mobilisation of far-right groups like neo-Nazis, we should be strengthening protections and not weaking them.
“It’s a profound relief that under this legislation religious schools cannot discriminate on the grounds of sexuality or gender identity, only on the basis of a person’s religious belief or activity.
“However, imposing a single view of religious doctrines on all staff, even cleaners or receptionists who have no role in religious teaching, opens the door to discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and silences those who support them in our school communities.”
Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory (IEU-QNT) Branch Secretary Terry Burke:
“The reinstatement of religious discrimination exemptions in the NT does not reflect modern community values and expectations.
“We know faith-based schools have the capacity and resilience to continue to operate in the absence of discrimination exemptions - they have done so quite adequately under the legislation which has been in place.”
Ella Waters, Assistant Secretary Australian Services Union (ASU) SA + NT:
“Territory workers deserve strong protections, but the CLP’s legislation takes us backwards, weakening vital safeguards and leaving workers exposed to hate speech and discrimination.
“Instead of building on reforms that made the Territory a leader in fairness, these changes risk undoing hard‑won progress and would leave workers more vulnerable in their workplaces.
“Our current laws reflect years of effort to create safer and more respectful workplaces and communities. We will continue to stand with our members to protect fairness and respect, and to ensure Territorians are protected from hate speech and discrimination.”
Sally Sievers, CEO Northern Territory Council of Social Service (NTCOSS):
“The previous Act was the result of decades of work by everyday Territorians. The process to get to these proposed changes has been opaque, confusing and not genuine consultation.
“The existing model of vilification sets a very high bar and has not been used frivolously. There’s no evidence to indicate the need for a new model, nor that the proposed ‘incite hatred’ model will be effective in addressing the vilification experienced by people in our community.
“These changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act will leave Territorians less safe. We need to protect what we’ve built together.”
