$245.7m for school chaplains puts LGBTIQ+ students in danger, say Greens

The Morrison government putting $245.7 million into religious chaplains in secular, public schools over the next four years puts LGBTIQ+ students in danger, say the Australian Greens.

“$245.7 million for religious chaplains in public schools is unacceptable and puts LGBTIQ+ students in danger,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ+ spokesperson.

“Public schools are secular institutions and are no place for religious chaplains.”

“The school chaplain program should be scrapped and the $245.7 million funding should be redirected to providing public schools with trained, secular counsellors, and inclusive anti-bullying programs like Safe Schools, not chaplains who may be pursuing their own religious agenda.”