Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Let me read to you the explanatory memorandum to Labor's bill, circulated by the then Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus, in March 2013:

The Bill will extend the exemption at section 38 of the SDA—

the Sexual Discrimination Act—

so that otherwise discriminatory conduct on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity will not be prohibited for educational institutions established for religious purpose. Consequently, the Bill will not alter the right to freedom of thought—

and it goes on. He said in his second reading speech:

The bill also amends existing exemptions as appropriate to reflect the new grounds. This includes exemptions for religious bodies in relation to employment and the provision of education that have been in place for many years.

I said, in answer to my earlier question, that the issues raised will be addressed through the process of our response to the Ruddock review, and this fortnight I have asked to work together with the Leader of the Opposition to provide the certainty for children and families. I would say to the Leader of the Opposition and those members opposite that we don't take kindly to being lectured on these issues when you created the laws which created the discrimination.

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