IEU supports proposed anti-discrimination law changes
The IEU applauds the Victorian government’s proposed reforms of legislation to better protect workers in faith-based schools and institutions.
Religious schools in Victoria will be prohibited from sacking or refusing to employ teachers because of their sexuality, gender or marital status under changes to anti-discrimination laws proposed by the Andrews government.
If enacted, the changes would be a major boost for the rights of education staff and would help promote inclusivity, reform cultures and improve the lives of countless dedicated workers.
The IEU has been campaigning for over a decade to give workers in faith-based schools the same rights and protections as other workers. We’ve been working with Equality Australia to push for Victoria’s laws to reflect 21st century community expectations.
Now, it is vital to support the long-overdue changes and resist the inevitable backlash from conservative lobbyists. Already, Christian Schools Australia is opposing the bill.
Ro Allen, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, told ABC radio that Victorians should read the legislation and question any conservative lobbying against the proposed changes.
You can show your support by signing this Megaphone petition. It states: “We know the conservative Christian lobby will fight to have the proposal watered down. We must come together in our thousands to show our community supports the changes, and to ensure the strongest possible reform”.
Sign the IEU/Equality Australia petition.
Megaphone Journal reports: “There are over 200,000 jobs in Australia today - including at least 38,564 jobs in Victoria alone - that a worker can be fired from for coming out as LGBTQ. These include teachers, school staff, doctors and health workers.”
In July, the IEU ran a survey of our members to better understand their workplace experiences. We invited comments, and received many encouraging stories of open, welcoming and diverse workplaces and schools seeking to improve after recognising historical issues. Unfortunately, too many other members told us they'd suffered or witnessed shocking institutionalised intolerance.
This legislation addresses schools where both staff and students have been forced to hide aspects of their identify or are made to feel unwelcome, workplaces that actively discriminate in employment or promotion opportunities. In some cases, this is related to sexual orientation or gender identity – in others, it’s about de-facto relationships, marital or parental status or faith.
Such discrimination remains legal in Victoria until these legislative changes are passed.
We agree with Equality Australia, who say unless a person’s religion is relevant to their role or their needs, faith-based organisations should treat all their employees and the people who rely on their services fairly and without discrimination.
We support these long overdue changes and look forward to the day they are enacted. We will continue to campaign for their implementation.