The latest - Equality Australia

New Religious Discrimination Bill will immunise bigotry

This Media Release relates to the Religious Discrimination Bill. Join the campaign to fight the 2nd draft Religious Discrimination Bill here. December 10 2019 On Human Rights Day the Prime Minister and Attorney General have announced the second draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill. Comments attributable to Anna Brown, CEO Equality Australia: The revised Religious […]

Settlement between Rugby Australia and Israel Folau shows that there is no need for new religious discrimination law

December 4, 2019 Today’s settlement between Rugby Australia and Israel Folau is welcomed by Equality Australia. It draws a line under what has been a divisive and hurtful period for LGBTIQ+ people in rugby, in sport and more generally. It proves that there is no need for a new law, especially one that would limit the right of employers to have codes of […]

Prominent faith-based service providers are concerned the Religious Discrimination Bill will overreach its initial intention.

s Media Release relates to the Religious Discrimination Bill. Join the campaign to fight the 2nd draft Religious Discrimination Bill here. November 29 2019 Vincent Care Victoria, Uniting Vic.Tas, and Anglicare, which deliver crucial social services for tens of thousands of Australians are concerned that the Bill will leave room for people to use faith […]

Concerns about the exclusion of sexuality and gender identity questions in the census trial

Australia’s National Statistician has revealed today in Senate Estimates that 20,000 trial census forms containing questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity will not be used, following intervention from Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar’s office. Anna Brown*, CEO of Equality Australia, said “ We’re disappointed to hear reports that Minister Sukkar’s office has intervened to […]

Civil society leaders lodge concerns about Religious Discrimination Act

Civil society groups and advocates representing women, LGBTIQ+ people, people with disability, people of colour, and workers are lodging submissions to express concerns about the proposed Religious Discrimination Act. “This Bill privileges religious belief over other human rights – that’s fundamentally unfair. It’s important that people of faith are protected from discrimination but giving new […]

Rachel Colvin files discrimination complaint against Ballarat Christian College

CASE SUMMARY Equality Australia is supporting a ground-breaking discrimination complaint made to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal by Mrs Rachel Colvin, a committed Christian and teacher formerly employed by Ballarat Christian College until February 2019. This case is brought under Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act 2010, which contains protections from discrimination on the basis […]

Petition Delivery: Advocates reject unbalanced religious discrimination ‘sword’

This Media Release relates to the Religious Discrimination Bill. Join the campaign to fight the 2nd draft Religious Discrimination Bill here. Tuesday, 10 September 2019 LGBTIQ+, racial justice, and women’s advocates today delivered a petition to the Shadow Attorney General Mark Dreyfus and Greens Senator Janet Rice arguing for a fair Religious Discrimination Bill. […]

Civil Society Condemns Draft Religious Discrimination Act

This Media Release relates to the Religious Discrimination Bill. Join the campaign to fight the 2nd draft Religious Discrimination Bill here. August 28 2019 Civil society groups representing women, LGBTIQ+ people, and people of colour have today condemned the Government’s draft Religious Discrimination Act Exposure Draft. “Laws must apply equally to everyone – this Act […]

Fair Birth Certificate Reforms Pass In Victoria

The Victorian Legislative Council (upper house) last night passed an amendment to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996 (Vic) removing barriers for trans and gender diverse people changing the legal gender on their birth certificates. Brenda Appleton*, Transgender Victoria spokesperson said “The power of the speeches and the outcome in the Council today […]

Catholic Church condemned for seeking to undermine state anti-discrimination laws

Equality Australia CEO, Anna Brown*, responds to reports today that the Catholic Church is pushing to undermine state-based discrimination laws with new federal measures that are allegedly going to cabinet this morning. “We’re deeply concerned about the push by institutions like the Catholic Church to enshrine religious privilege. Religious institutions should not be above the laws that apply to everyday Australians […]

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