Liberal MPs want Folaus law removed from Religious Discrimination Bill – Sydney Morning Herald

Liberal MP Warren Entsch, who was instrumental in the legalisation of same-sex marriage and the advance of LGBTQI causes in the Coalition, said his position on the draft bill was unambiguous.

Queensland Liberal MP Warren Entsch.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

I havent spent 19 years of my political career removing discrimination from one section of our community to allow it to be reimposed under the auspices of this bill, he said.

If theres any suggestion that this discrimination is going to be reintroduced, I will not support it, end of story, and Ive made that very, very clear.

The group of Liberals, including Goldstein MP Tim Wilson, NSW senator Andrew Bragg, North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman and West Australian senator Dean Smith, is working closely with LGBTQI group Equality Australia.

Senator Cash is said to be well aware of the divergent views within the Coalition party room and keen to deliver a bill that navigates the maze without upsetting the apple cart. She has also met with Equality Australia about the bill.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison went to the last election promising a religious discrimination act after failing to deliver on an earlier promise to end exemptions that allowed religious schools to turn away LGBTQI students.

Instead, the Australian Law Reform Commission has been asked to review those exemptions, but they are not due to begin that work until the Religious Discrimination Bill passes the Parliament.

But Senator Bragg said the forthcoming Religious Discrimination Bill should be used to provide protection for LGBTQI students and staff.

I don't think in 2021 people should be sacked for being gay if theyre teaching in accordance with theology, he said.

Mr Wilson said he looked forward to delivering on the Coalitions commitments, but warned: Before the last election we promised a Religious Discrimination Bill consistent with other anti-discrimination law, not a religious freedom bill that grants illiberal special privileges, nor a religious bill of rights that subverts everyone elses freedoms.

Mr Sharma said he was disappointed by the governments failure to fix the issue of religious schools discriminating against LGBTQI students and teachers. That is a real problem that needs addressing. We made a commitment, and we should address it sooner rather than later, he said.

Senator Cash did not respond to a request for comment.

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Liberal MPs want Folaus law removed from Religious Discrimination Bill - Sydney Morning Herald