MEMBER for Mallee Andrew Broad says it is “fair and reasonable” for religious schools to turn teachers away based on their sexuality.
The Nationals MP told The Guardian parents paid to send their children to schools which subscribed to a specific set of values.
“Under current law, a Christian, religious or independent school does have the right to choose not to employ someone if their values are not consistent with what the schools teach,” he said.
“People choose to send their children to and pay for their children to go to that school because of a set of values they believe in.
“They should have their rights to choose to send their children there if they want to and know that that school is upholding what they think they are paying for. That’s fair and reasonable I think.”
The comments follow a move by federal Parliament last week to remove the power of faith-based schools to discriminate against children based on the basis of their sexual preference.
Under the federal Sex Discrimination Act, religious schools are permitted to discriminate in relation to sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or relationship status or pregnancy.
To read more of this story, grab a copy of the October 22 edition of The Guardian.
