Media Release
Wednesday October 10th 2018
 
ADVOCATES SLATE "SHAMEFUL" RUDDOCK RECOMMENDATIONS
- Report is direct assault on LGBTI people
- Feds on collision course with Tas and other states
- New petition launched against Ruddock recommendations
 
“Schools should be places of learning, not breeding grounds of prejudice.” 
"This looks and feels like a vindictive attempt to punish LGBTI people for achieving marriage equality."
- Rodney Croome
 
LGBTI community advocates have slated the Ruddock Inquiry recommendations as a shameful assault on equality and human rights. 
 
The Inquiry has recommended that federal discrimination laws be amended to allow religious schools to reject students and sack teachers on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. 
 
This will put the Federal Government on a collision course with those mainland stares that want to prohibit such discrimination, as well as Tasmania that has prohibited discrimination against LGBTI people by religious schools for 20 years. 
 
Just.equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said, 
 
“The Ruddock Inquiry recommendations are are direct and shameful assault on the dignity and equality of LGBTI people and we will oppose their implementation tooth and nail.” 
 
“Schools should be places of learning, not breeding grounds of prejudice.” 
 
“Any school that receives public money should abide by the same rules as the rest of society, including the same rules about fair-treatment and discrimination.” 
 
“We will lobby Liberal moderates, Labor and the Senate cross-bench to oppose any attempt to legislate this abhorrent and retrograde recommendation.” 
 
“We call on all LGBTI, human rights and social justice organisations to join us.” 
 
Mr Croome said Tasmanian religious schools have operated well for 20 years without being allowed to discriminate against LGBTI people. 
 
“Given there is no problem in Tasmania, the only reason I can see for the proposed federal law is to entrench fear, prejudice and hate.” 
 
"This looks and feels like a vindictive attempt to punish LGBTI people for achieving marriage equality."
 
The Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act does not allow discrimination by faith-based organisations on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.
 
The Victorian Government recently tried to remove an exemption allowing such discrimination from its anti-discrimination laws. There are also campaigns to remove such exemptions in WA and the NT.
 
Just.equal has launched a petition against the Ruddock Inquiry recommendations. 
 
The petition can be accessed here: 
 
A social media campaign promoting the petition can be accessed here: 
 
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
 
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.