Australian women's groups urge removal of religious school discrimination exemptions

Women's rights groups, legal experts, and community leaders have petitioned the Australian Prime Minister to abolish exemptions in federal law that allow religious schools to discriminate based on marital status, pregnancy, and personal relationships.

The call for reform follows the introduction of the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work Amendment (Equality in Treatment in Religious Schools) Bill 2026 by Independent MP Allegra Spender. The bill seeks to repeal Section 38 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, which currently permits religious institutions to discriminate against teachers, students, and contract workers regarding their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or relationship status.

Advocates argue that these exemptions undermine the rights of women and LGBTQ+ individuals. Helen Dalley Fisher AM of the National Foundation for Australian Women stated that a teacher's professional ability should not be overshadowed by judgments regarding her private life. The proposed legislation aims to replace the broad exemptions with narrower provisions and extend protections to the associates of those covered, such as ensuring children are not treated differently due to their parents' relationship status.