Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Pedestrian.tv
Pedestrian.tv
National
Kathleen Farmilo

A Liberal MP Won’t Support The Religious Discrimination Bill Bc It Doesn’t Protect Trans Kids

One Liberal politician has said she won’t vote for the Government’s cooked Religious Discrimination Bill after Liberal MPs decided to support it.

The Coalition officially endorsed the Bill on Tuesday. But it was revealed earlier that day that trans students wouldn’t be protected under the bill.

Now Liberal MP Bridget Archer has said she’ll cross the floor and oppose the Bill.

The bar is on the fucking ground but a partial shoutout to this single MP for having a modicum of a backbone.

Bridget Archer described herself as “utterly distressed” that the Religious Discrimination Bill won’t protect trans kids.

“After so much progress, how did we get back to a place where we ignore the harm we place on children when we tell them they are “other”, “less than” and do not deserve rights and protections afforded to others? I fear it may risk lives,” she said.

“Anyone around my age would remember a time when homosexuality was a crime and would remember the laws that followed to protect Tasmanians was incredibly hard fought for.

“I know and recognise my actions will upset some in the religious communities I represent, but I also take heart from the conversations I have had and the correspondence I’ve received who do not want to see this bill passed due to the hurt and pain caused to others.”

According to The Guardian, at least six Liberal MPs expressed their concerns about the bill. One MP has also reserved the right to cross the floor.

The decision not to add in amendments to protect trans kids has met widespread backlash.

Attorney General Michaelia Cash in particular has been criticised for prioritising Christian schools over the needs, protections and safety of trans children.

The debate — as explained by my colleague Aleks here — is largely centered around a section of the Sex Discrimination Act. It gives schools the rights to discriminate based on gender and sexuality.

Cash then went on to defend the right of same-sex school to discriminate against trans kids.

“If subsection 38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act were amended to remove the exemption for religious schools to discriminate against a student on the basis of their gender identity, it could have the potential to effectively nullify the intention and ethos of religious single-sex schools,” she said.

“For example, if a current student transitioned whilst enrolled at a single-sex school, a religious single-sex school would not be adequately equipped to cater to the needs of the opposite sex. Matters such as uniforms, bathrooms, as well as the wishes of other parents to send their children to a single-sex school would need to be addressed.”

What’s more important here? The possible minor inconvenience of schools having to provide appropriate bathroom and uniform facilities or the lives of vulnerable children?

At the moment Labor hasn’t announced its position on the Religious Discrimination Bill.

But without Archer’s support, the Coalition will need the support of Labor or of the crossbench to pass it.

Let’s hope at least some of our politicians have enough of a spine to do the bare minimum when it comes to protecting trans kids.

The post A Liberal MP Won’t Support The Religious Discrimination Bill Bc It Doesn’t Protect Trans Kids appeared first on Pedestrian TV.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.