The Greens are harnessing the momentum of World Pride and Mardi Gras celebrations in Sydney to pledge to remove religious exceptions to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act.
The Greens' "Plan for Rainbow Rights in NSW" commits to introducing legislation within the first 100 days of the next parliament to remove the exceptions for religious bodies, private educational authorities and small businesses in the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act.
Greens MP Jenny Leong unveiled the plan on Thursday, saying the party was committed to ending "the exceptions, policies and practices that enshrine discrimination in our laws and enable harmful practices in our communities".
"As we celebrate Sydney World Pride, it is critical that we use this momentum to achieve real reforms and change in our society," she said.
"That means not just flying the rainbow flag but taking the critical steps towards achieving full equality and dignity for all LGBTIQA+ people in NSW," she said.
"We are putting the next parliament on notice that we will be introducing a bill to remove exceptions that allow religious bodies to lawfully discriminate within the first 100 days," she said.
"The time for excuses, delays, consultation and inquiries is over."
Liberal and Labor had talked about reviews of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act for too long but failed to act, she said, while religious bodies were allowed to engage in harmful discriminatory practices against LGBTQI people.
"Any form of discrimination in law, in education, in hospitals, in community services or in workplaces is unacceptable and the exceptions for religious bodies, private education authorities and small businesses in our anti-discrimination laws have gone unchallenged for far too long," Ms Leong said.
