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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Sarah Martin and Paul Karp

Coalition shelves religious discrimination bill after Christian lobby says changes do ‘more harm than good’

Trent Zimmerman (centre), Bridget Archer (left) and Katie Allen (right).
Liberal MPs Trent Zimmerman (centre), Bridget Archer (left) and Katie Allen (right) crossed the floor during debate on the religious discrimination bill. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

The Coalition has shelved its divisive religious discrimination laws after amendments aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ students sparked a backlash from religious schools and conservatives.

Facing calls from the Christian lobby to dump the amended laws, the government said it had received legal advice from the attorney general’s department that showed lower house amendments passed in the early hours of Thursday morning may have unintended consequences.

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