Philip Ruddock’s government-commissioned review of religious freedoms in Australia will urge the Morrison government to enshrine the right of religious schools to turn away gay students and teachers, a leak has revealed.
The review has not been publicly released despite being handed to then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull four months ago. His successor, Scott Morrison, has promised a response before the next election.
But segments of the review leaked to Fairfax Media reveal some of the key recommendations.
Philip Ruddock’s government-commissioned review of religious freedoms in Australia will urge the Morrison government to enshrine the right of religious schools.
AAP
Among them, a proposal to change the federal Sex Discrimination Act to allow religious schools to discriminate against students based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or relationship status.
Schools already have this exemption in some states, but the change would extend the rule around the country.
“To some school communities, cultivating an environment and ethos which conforms to their religious beliefs is of paramount importance,” the leaked segment of the report reads.
“To the extent that this can be done in the context of appropriate safeguards for the rights and mental health of the child, the panel accepts their right to select, or preference, students who uphold the religious convictions of that school community.”
The report says schools should be given similar rights to discriminate in the hiring of teachers.
Asked about the leak, Mr Morrison said he would not comment in detail because the cabinet was yet to consider its response to the report.
But he said the right of religious schools to discriminate was an "existing law" and therefore not particularly noteworthy.
"It's the existing law. We're not proposing to change that law to take away that existing arrangement that exists," Mr Morrison said.
