So we can all live, work and study with dignity, everyone has to do their part. No one who seeks protection from discrimination should be allowed to discriminate against others.
Whilst everyone has the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of religious belief, no belief (religious or not) should trump the right of an individual to live, work, or study with dignity.
The Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Freedoms and Equality) Bill 2020 contains a number of alarming provisions which could adversely affect, among others, LGBTIQ+ people, divorced and unmarried people, as well as women.
The Bill elevates religious belief above other human rights, giving special protections to religious activities that may breach laws and harm others.
The Bill gives significant power to organisations and even corporate bodies that define themselves as religious, allowing them to challenge NSW government programs that contradict their religions. This effectively prohibits the NSW government requiring taxpayer-funded religious schools and service providers to treat everyone equally when delivering public services.
These provisions are in addition to broad exemptions for religious schools, charities, and other faith-based organisations entrenching their ability to discriminate on the basis of someone’s religion (or lack thereof) in the provision of services, education, and employment. These exemptions add to existing religious exemptions for attributes such as marital status, homosexuality and transgender status.
No laws should privilege one group over another. Our laws should protect all of us, equally. We urge you not to proceed with this flawed and dangerous Bill proposed by One Nation’s NSW leader.