Media Release
Thursday December 16th 2021
 
CALL ON MORRISON AND ALBANESE TO EXPLAIN STANCE ON FEDERAL OVERRIDES OF TASMANIAN GOLD-STANDARD DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS
 
Equality advocates have called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to explain why he opposes Tasmania's gold-standard anti-discrimination protections and on Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese, to explain why he has not explicitly defended those protections. 
 
Mr Morrison's Religious Discrimination Bill will override existing discrimination protections for many Tasmanians. Mr Albanese has not committed Labor to voting down this override.
 
Both national leaders will be in Tasmania repeatedly between now and the next year's election with my Albanese in the state yesterday and Mr Morrison tomorrow.
 
Equality Tasmania spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,
 
"The Religious Discrimination Bill attacks Tasmania more than any other state because we have the strongest discrimination laws."
 
"People with disability will lose their protections from bullying and teachers will lose their job security."
 
"Mr Morrison must explain why he wants Tasmanians to lose our existing rights under the Bill he has championed."
 
"Mr Albanese must explain why he hasn't adopted a strong and explicit stance in defence of the rights of everyday Tasmanians."
 
"They both have a duty to explain why they think the basic rights of Tasmanians matter so little."
 
The Religious Discrimination Bill will weaken Tasmanian protections against humiliating and other bullying behaviour. The largest proportion of complaints under this protection is from people with disability.
 
The Bill will also weaken existing protections for teachers in faith-based schools, and possibly for staff in, and clients of, other faith-based organisations.
 
These protections have existed for 23 years and have fostered a Tasmania that is fairer, more equitable and more inclusive.
 
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.