Equality advocates say any further allocation of public funds to religious schools must be linked to the removal of archaic laws allowing LGBTI teachers to be fired and students expelled.

The call comes after it was revealed that under Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s funding “fix” for Catholic Schools, the sector will receive more than $4.1 billion in additional federal funds over the next decade.

Just.equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

"Australians overwhelmingly believe religious schools receiving taxpayer funding should have to abide by the same laws as everyone else, including discrimination laws."

"It's time for both major parties to work together to remove archaic exemptions that allow teachers to be sacked and students expelled just because they or gay or transgender."

Mr Croome called on the Federal Government to adopt Tasmania's laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBTI teachers and students in all faith-based schools, and to consider the UK funding model which ties public funding for faith-based schools to the adoption of anti-discrimination standards. 

In May last year, a national survey commissioned by just.equal and conducted by YouGov Galaxy found 78% of Australians do not believe that religious schools should be entitled to public funding if they legally discriminated against LGBTI students and teachers.

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