Commentary
On Jan. 27, the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) released a consultation paper on its inquiry into religious, educational institutions and anti-discrimination laws.
The Terms of Reference outlined in the paper require the ALRC to develop proposals for protections against discrimination of students and staff while ensuring that religious educational institutions “can continue to build a community of faith.”
However, on Feb. 13, a letter signed by the leaders of all major faiths addressed to the federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus (pdf) conveys their “deep disappointment” with proposed reforms released for comment by the ALRC.
The ALRC paper outlines four legislative propositions. While providing that religious schools and colleges can still teach religious doctrines or beliefs on sex and sexuality and require their staff to do so, these propositions will be effectively undermined….