Stop the Federal Government weakening Tasmania's strong Anti-Discrimination Act
Stop the Federal Government weakening Tasmania's strong Anti-Discrimination Act
Started
9 March 2020
Petition to
Signatures: 89Next goal: 100
Support now
Why this petition matters
Started by Equality Tasmania and parter organisations
- The Federal Government’s Religious Discrimination Bill seeks to override section 17 of Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act, allowing Tasmanians to be humiliated, intimidated, insulted and ridiculed in the name of religion.
- Section 17 has helped foster a more open, friendly, accepting and inclusive Tasmania by giving people who suffer demeaning and stigmatising behaviour an opportunity to access mediation, seek redress for harm done and secure equal dignity.
- Section 17 benefits a range of traditionally marginalised groups who suffer discrimination and denigration in the name of religion, including LGBTIQ people, members of racial minorities and unmarried partners, with the highest proportion of complaints coming from people with disability.
- Section 17 has been written in to many State Government anti-discrimination, anti-bullying and inclusion policies.
- The Tasmanian Parliament has twice voted to uphold section 17, and it has been found by the Supreme Court of Tasmania not to violate Australia’s international obligations or Constitutional protections regarding freedom of religion and free speech.
- Tasmanians don’t want the Federal Government meddling with our strong human rights laws.
- Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act provides the strongest discrimination protections in Australia, including for people of faith.
- Instead of being weakened, this Act should be adopted as a model by the Commonwealth and by the other states and territories.
- Please vote against the Religious Discrimination Bill.
Support now
Signatures: 89Next goal: 100
Support now