Expert criticises report on proposed changes to anti-discrimination laws – calls for more youth representation
RMIT University Media Release
The Federal Government is negotiating how to implement the changes recommended by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) report on anti-discrimination law reform, with a bill tabled in parliament late last week.
Professor Anna Hickey-Moody, expert in youth studies:
“A year later than anticipated, this report recommends Australia should ‘narrow the circumstances’ in which religious discrimination occurs, not outlaw discrimination.
“The proposed changes offer very little protection for same sex attracted youth in religious schools.
“Despite the fact that the ALRC state ‘students are at the centre of this inquiry’, the methods they have employed unfairly marginalise youth experiences.
“Over 40% of Australian secondary students attend religious schools.
“However, in assessing the impact of the current religious discrimination legislation, the ALRC spoke mainly to adults.
“They assessed 428 written submissions, only one of which was from a minor.
“The ALRC also undertook 131 interviews with consultees, all of whom were over 18.
“They included students in their survey – but they had over 2,5000 responses from adults in the sector and under 1,5000 responses from young people.
“How can this be seen as placing students ‘at the centre’?
“The voices and experiences of queer religious young people have been largely excluded from this process and this is a significant flaw in the process.”
Professor Anna Hickey-Moody is known for her work with socially marginalised people. She is currently undertaking an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant-funded project on the sexuality and religion of young people.
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2 comments
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leefe
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B Sullivan
Return to home pageNo, I think we outlaw discrimination over race, religion (or the lack of it), gender, sexuality, disability and anything that isn’t a personal choice. And yes, I know religion is in a kind of grey area when you talk about personal choice, but the fact is that most adherents are brainwashed into that shit from early childhood.
Leefe,
We can’t outlaw discrimination over race because there are no races to discriminate between. Whatever it is that makes us irrationally hate each other according to the nature of our birth, either it has a genetic basis, i.e. it is coded into our development, or it doesn’t. If it does we all share it, which makes not just a bit of sense but a lot of sense when you see people rejoice in the suffering of complete strangers instead of empathising with them to comprehend their sorrow. If it exists it skews our ability to see injustice clearly.
The point is however, there is no genetic evidence that justifies the belief that we belong to different races. Geneticists are just too slow getting the word out to the wider community, especially our government representatives. Perhaps they should be given a voice to parliament. It is as though it will take a monumental humanitarian disaster to make us wake up and realise we are not committing genocide, we are committing suicide.
All races are not equal, not because some are superior or inferior but because there are no races. We just don’t look the same and we are subject to cultural indoctrination that makes us think we belong to different races.
We cannot help what we look like, we can’t even help what our circumstances make us look like. We can however do something about our cultures and avoid aspects of our culture that may set off the prejudice gene that we all might possess. How? By using our critical thinking gene!!! Which sadly may be something we don’t all have. Which still doesn’t make those who do have it different race from those who don’t. Did you know that there appears to be a naturally selected gene that we all share because it has favoured our survival which when triggered programs us to care more about the environment? Breaking news from a brand new science of human discovery. (Actually it is quite old news now)
I do not discriminate between religions. I criticise them all where and whenever I see criticism is warranted. I praise the wonderful achievements of religious cultures, and condemn the brutal atrocities. I don’t need any laws that threaten my right to discriminate between good and evil.