Government senators on the inquiry into the religious discrimination bills have recommended it pass with minor amendments, and say it should be the role of future governments to "monitor the impacts" of contentious provisions allowing "statements of belief" and overriding state-based protections against discrimination in employment by faith-based bodies.
Tasmania's government and NGOs - including unions - have united in opposition to the proposed Religious Discrimination Bill because of provisions that override "gold standard" State anti-discrimination legislation that protects LGBTIQ+ employees in faith-based workplaces.
A senior Attorney-General's official has denied that the department failed to comply with its obligation to act with "honesty and integrity" when it asserted in the Religious Discrimination Bill's explanatory memorandum that the "statements of belief" provisions had no effect on other laws.
The "statement of beliefs" provisions in the Morrison Government's religious discrimination legislation would enable a "free-for-all" to make degrading, hostile and harmful comments in the workplace, a parliamentary inquiry heard today.
The Morrison Government's religious discrimination legislation permits faith-based employers to discriminate against workers on the basis of their "religious belief or activity" if it is connected to their position as an employee or prevents them performing inherent requirements.
Unions and employer organisations will be barred from refusing membership or the benefits of it on the basis of religious beliefs or activity, but faith-based organisations will be allowed to engage in biased employment practices under the Morrison Government's proposed religious discrimination legislation, which is likely to be introduced to Federal Parliament tomorrow.
A Jehovah's Witness's ineptitude and expectation he should be treated "deferentially" at work, rather than any religious discrimination, resulted in his dismissal from a labouring job after seven weeks, a court has found.
A revised draft of the Morrison Government's Religious Discrimination Bill allows a broad range of defined religious organisations to preference the employment of those who share their faith.
Representative rugby player Israel Folau will not be proceeding with his unlawful dismissal claim against Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs under the Fair Work Act, after the parties settled the matter today.
The nurses union says a plan to let faith-based hospital and aged care providers make discriminatory employment decisions based on religion could affect quality of care, while a teachers' union warns of "unanticipated consequences".
