Toongabbie Anglican Church Blog

Weekly Blurb

Greens anti–discrimination bill

Sunday 6 June, 2004 · Posted by Philip Bassett

On page 3 of this month's Southern Cross you will find an article on the Greens Party Private Member's bill to amend the present antidiscrimination act. At present the act allows Christian organisations exemption from the act to allow them to choose to employ only christians for key positions within the organisation. For example a Christian school can choose to employ only Christian teachers or to exclude categories of teachers that it does not regard as compatible with its Christian ethos, for example homosexuals.

Of course the act also allows other religious groups to choose not to employ Christians.

The Greens ammenment would remove this type of exemption. Greens Senator Ms Lee Rhiannon says that the amendments to close loopholes in the 1977 legislation that the Greens Party feels are in opposition to human rights.

Rev. Andrew Cameron, Moore College Lecturer in Ethics is quoted as saying, �It seems that the focus of Ms rhiannon's concern is to compel private educational authorities to employ teachers regardless of their gender or sexual practices or beliefs.�

Please read the article, look up the full text of the Bill online and express your concern to your local State member.

Relevant Links:

• Greens Bill hurts Church - Southern Cross article
• The Bill can be viewed online (PDF).

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