Allegra Spender introduces bill to end religious school discrimination

Independent MP Allegra Spender has introduced the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work Amendment (Equality in Treatment in Religious Schools) Bill to the Australian House of Representatives. The bill aims to close legal loopholes that currently allow religious schools to discriminate against students and staff based on sexuality, gender identity, pregnancy, or marital status.

Equality advocates, including Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown, are urging the federal Labor government to support the legislation. Advocates note that while Labor made commitments to reform these laws in 2022, progress has stalled. The Australian Law Reform Commission previously recommended scrapping these exemptions in a March 2024 report.

Ms. Spender stated that schools should be environments where students can grow and be themselves rather than facing expulsion or exclusion. With support from the Greens, the bill has a potential path through parliament if the government chooses to act on its previous election promises.