Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to lodge this petition on behalf of the Australian Family Association. It contains 11,457 signatures. The petition is entitled: 'Keep section 38—Uphold the freedom of our religious schools', and it primarily expresses concerns regarding the removal of section 38 of the Sex Discrimination Act, including those important protections afforded to faith based schools in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation. The petition calls on the government to maintain the provisions of section 38 and to include a freedom of belief clause in that legislation as follows:

People are free to hold, manifest and/or express their thought, conscience or belief, whether religious or secular, without detriment, and to hold, manifest and/or express a religion without detriment.

There are concerns expressed about section 38 and its removals.