Legislative exemptions that allow faith-based educational institutions to discriminate against students, teachers and staff
The submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee was prepared by the Law Council. The Law Council is grateful for the assistance of its National Human Rights Committee, the New South Wales Bar Association, the New South Wales Law Society, and the Law Society of South Australia in the preparation of this submission.
The Law Council welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Committee’s inquiry. It is, however, concerned by the inquiry’s truncated timeframes, and the fact that it is being held without the benefit of the report of the Expert Panel recently appointed by the former Prime Minister to examine whether Australian law adequately protects the human right to freedom of religion (the Expert Panel Report). It considers that the Expert Panel Report should be released, and an adequate period should be granted for the public to digest its findings, before any new legislation is introduced.
You can read the full submission below.