2025-06-16
Background
Attorney General Marie-Claire Boothby yesterday announced changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act to weaken protections against discrimination and reinstate some employer’s right to discriminate on the basis of race, sexuality, gender, religious beliefs and other factors. She referred to it as “restoring balance” to anti-discrimination laws, and said it was part of the Finocchiaro Government’s push to restore our ‘Territory lifestyle.’
This announcement coincided with the concluding day of the 40th annual Darwin Pride, where the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies met to celebrate visibility and activism. Our hearts go out to the many members of our community who will face needless, preventable discrimination as a result of these changes.
Racial discrimination in particular is on the rise, fuelled by dog-whistle political rhetoric and policies that target and impact Aboriginal communities, particularly young people.
The NT Greens call on the Attorney General to release the list of stakeholders she consulted with before making these changes, and to abandon these needless, counterproductive reforms.
During Estimates today, the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner confirmed that his office does not support the proposed changes to the Act and that he had advised the Attorney General to not proceed with the amendments announced today.
Quotes attributable to Kat McNamara MLA, Member for Nightcliff
“Let's be clear, the reintroduction of 37A is not about religious freedom, it is about allowing discrimination of teachers and students on the basis of their sexuality and beliefs. Discrimination should have no place in the Territory.”
"We learnt in Estimates today that the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner strongly opposes the proposed changes to the Anti- Discrimination Act and yet the CLP Government is recklessly proceeding regardless. Consultation is meaningless if you do not listen to the expert feedback provided."
“The fact that the Attorney General thought it was appropriate to make this announcement on the final day of Darwin Pride shows careless arrogance, deep ignorance, or both.”
“The Attorney General says this is part of restoring our ‘iconic Territory lifestyle.’ The idea that being able to vilify members of our community is part of our lifestyle is both offensive and ridiculous.”
“These changes will embolden individuals and organisations to discriminate.”
Quotes attributable to Nic Carson, Acting Convenor of the Northern Territory Greens
“The NT Greens stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ community, our multicultural community, our First Nations community, our community living with disability, and others who will face needless discrimination as a result of these changes.”
“This demonstrates the CLP’s ignorance about the scale and impact of discriminatory practice and hate speech in the NT. Rather than shutting it down, they want to create space for more or the behaviours that produce systemic discrimination in the Territory.”
“What the CLP sees as ‘harmless jokes’ are the tip of the iceberg. Beneath them are layers of prejudice, exclusion, and discrimination that are an underlying cause of deaths in custody, gender inequality in workplaces, anti-trans narratives, and over-incarceration of First Nations people.”
“There are people in our community being shut out of employment, shut out of accessing public amenity and patronage, due to their gender, age, sexuality, disability, racial background, and other factors. This has to stop.”