Make no mistake, the ALRC has faith-based schools in its sights. And it's only a matter of time before schools have to decide whether they will simply allow their identity to die or fight on. This will be a litmus test for Christian schools and education.

The ALRC has opened a survey that allows individual members of the public to contribute their personal views and experiences to its Inquiry into anti-discrimination laws as they apply to religious educational institutions. It will remain open until 24 February 2023.

The ALRC is particularly interested to hear from those connected with religious educational institutions (including schools, early learning centres, colleges, and universities). This survey is open to all interested members of the public.

Here is a guide for you in answering the survey questions:

Question: Do you see the creation of a ‘community of faith’ within a religious educational institution as important?

Comment: Schools are about more than just teaching maths and English – they are a learning community that shapes the whole person. That’s why schools teach sports, art and ethics. Parents choose faith-based schools because they want that learning community to also be a community of faith that shapes their children. In your answer, you might talk about how you have experienced the community of faith in your school or college, and how you value that as a part of education.

Question: What do you think about reforms to change the law so that religious educational institutions would not be allowed to discriminate against students on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or relationship status, or pregnancy?

Comment: All schools set down codes of conduct for students that reflect the values of the school and the community it serves. No student should be harassed or bullied for any reason. However, all schools should be able to have rules of conduct that reflect the faith of the community. In your answer, you might suggest that schools should treat all children with respect and love, but that it is reasonable for a school to have rules of behaviour in line with their faith.

Question:  What do you think about reforms to change the law so that religious educational institutions would not be allowed to discriminate against staff on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or relationship status or pregnancy?

Comment:  Schools that are faith communities need to have staff who uphold that faith. Faith is a fundamental worldview that impacts all of life for a believer. For many faiths, this impact includes sexuality. Staff who work in faith-based schools and colleges should expect to be asked to share the values of the faith community, not only in their teaching but in their manner of living out their faith. In your answer, you might discuss the value of having staff that uphold the faith in creating the faith community in a school or college. For faiths that hold specific beliefs about sexuality, those beliefs cannot be separated from the rest of the faith.

Question: In relation to the employment of staff and selection of contractors...

• What do you think religious educational institutions should be permitted to take into account in preferencing members of the same religion?

• What do you think religious educational institutions should not be permitted to take into account in preferencing members of the same religion?

• Are there some factors that institutions should be permitted to take into account for particular employee/contractor roles, but not for other employee/contractor roles?

Comment:  Each faith has its own requirements – some have restrictions on clothing, diet, and all kinds of behaviour. Is dangerous for a Government to decide which bits of faith a religious school is allowed to require, and which bits are not. In your answers, you might talk about the need for religious groups to hold to their own faith and not be told what they are and are not allowed to believe.

Will you help us be the voice for Christians and Christian schools in Australia by adding your name to the petition and sharing it? 

Please sign our petition to ensure that the ALRC review will protect Christians and Christian schools from religious discrimination.