Tuesday January 2nd 2017 

PETITION TO RUDDOCK INQUIRY OPPOSES ANY DISCRIMINATION LAW ROLL BACK 

National LGBTI advocacy group, just.equal, has begun 2018 on the front foot, launching a new campaign to protect against the erosion of gains made in 2017.

The group has launched a petition to the Ruddock inquiry into religious freedom that strongly opposes any roll back of discrimination law and calls for an Australian Charter of Rights. 

Just.equal spokesperson, Ivan Hinton-Teoh, said, 

“The current ‘religious freedom’ movement has nothing to do with genuine freedom and everything to do with punching holes in Australian laws that protect LGBTIQ people and other minorities from discrimination and disadvantage.” 

“The threat is too great to be left to lawyers and academics to argue over which is why we are giving everyday Australians the opportunity to have their voices heard through our petition.” 

“This is a matter of national values because it is unAustralian to allow discrimination.” 

Mr Hinton-Teoh said the move to water down anti-discrimination laws in the name of "religious freedom" affects more than just LGBTIQ people.

“Granting legal privileges to discriminate on the grounds of religion potentially disadvantage minority faiths, women and interracial couples, as well as LGBTIQ people, so our petition is open to everyone to sign.”

“We believe the best way to protect genuine religious freedom and LGBTIQ equality is for there to be an Australian Charter of Rights.”

Mr Hinton-Teoh said just.equal will include the petition in its submission to the Ruddock Inquiry. 

The petition can be signed here: www.equal.org.au/ruddock_inquiry

 

To see a copy of this statement on the web click here.

For more information contact Ivan Hinton-Teoh on 0419 124 826.