2016-05-23
The Australian Greens urge the Labor party to join them in committing to removing religious exemptions to the Sex Discrimination Act, following Rainbow Labor's announcement to appoint an LGBTI discrimination commissioner.
"While Labor's plan to appoint a LGBTI discrimination commissioner would certainly be a welcome focus on advancing LGBTI rights, we still don't have a clear commitment from the ALP that they will end discrimination against LGBTI people under the law," Greens sexuality spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.
"By leaving religious exemptions in the Sex Discrimination Act alone, Labor is ignoring the elephant in the room and allowing a law that gives a private school the right to sack a gay teacher based only on his sexuality, or a religious homeless shelter the right to turn away a trans person.
"Discrimination in the work place and in the delivery of social services should not be tolerated under Australian law. Labor should join the Greens in pledging to remove this appalling discrimination."
The Greens launched a suite of LGBTI policies on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, including the plan to remove religious exemptions from the Sex Discrimination Act, a full roll-out of the Safe Schools program and listing HIV prevention drug PrEP on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.