NSW Catholic schools say the Federal Government should think twice before it prevents principals from banning gay and other staff in religious schools.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently announced that Independent and Catholic schools will be prevented from expelling LGBTQI students and teachers under new laws.
“Our Government does not support expulsion of students from religious non-state schools on the basis of their sexuality,” Morrison said.
“I also know that this view is widely shared by religious schools and communities across the country.”
The PM’s announcement was prompted by a leaked recommendation from the Ruddock review which suggested that laws allowing religious schools to refuse gay students and teachers be made consistent across Australia.
A Fairfax-Ipsos survey released on Sunday night found that 74% of all eligible voters reject any laws that would allow schools to discriminate based on a student or teacher’s sexuality, relationship status or gender.
This week, Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) – which represents the state’s 595 Catholic schools and their 255,000 students – said that while it opposes banning gay students, the issues as they relate to staff “are more complex and require careful consideration of all legal and employment-related matters”.
“We are willing to participate in a discussion on the future of anti-discrimination laws as they relate to employees of faith-based bodies in the context of a full and proper response to the Ruddock Review,” CSNSW CEO, Dallas McInerney, said.
McInerney said any changes to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 affecting religious employers will have “consequences” for staff conditions as expressed in Codes of Conduct, Enterprise Bargaining Agreements and other employment instruments.
“This is not something that can be rushed. It requires wide consultation, including with our staff,” he said.
“The freedom of Catholic schools to employ staff who embrace Christianity is essential for providing effective religious education and faith formation to their students.”