MR: Just.Equal urges parliamentary inquiry into Religious Discrimination Bill

Media Release

Tuesday October 26th 2021

JUST.EQUAL WRITES TO FEDERAL LEADERS URGING RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION BILL GO TO PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

National LGBTIQ+ advocacy organisation, Just.Equal Australia, has written to leading members of both major parties urging them to support a parliamentary inquiry into the Religious Discrimination Bill when it is introduced by Attorney-General, Michaelia Cash.

The call comes in response to news reports that Senator Cash does not believe such an inquiry is necessary.

Just.Equal Australia spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

"If the previous drafts of this Bill are anything to go by, it will take existing rights away from women, people with disability, LGBTIQ+ people and others."

"Those Australians who will be deprived of their rights by this Bill deserve to have their voices heard and concerns addressed."

"Previous consultations by the Government aren't a substitute for a fully-fledged public inquiry by Parliament, particularly given the Government's obvious interest in having this Bill pass"

Mr Croome said Just.Equal Australia has written to the Attorney-General, shadow Attorney-General, leaders of both major parties, supporters of existing discrimination protections in both parties, the Greens and Senate cross-benchers.

According to a report on October 24th in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Government will not refer the Bill to an inquiry:

'Attorney-General Michaelia Cash signalled the government would ramp up pressure on Labor to not hold a Senate inquiry because the government “has conducted two rounds of public consultation on draft legislation, and met face to face with over 90 stakeholders in a series of roundtables”.'

For a copy of this statement on the web, click here

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.