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Scott Morrison says he'll make school anti-discrimination bill 'a conscience issue' – politics live Scott Morrison says he'll make school anti-discrimination bill 'a conscience issue' – politics live
(34 minutes later)
Murph asked this in the press conference: Australia’s gross domestic product (GDP) was 0.3% in the September quarter, which was much lower than expected.
The majority of market economists surveyed before this released were predicting quarterly growth would be 0.6%.
It means the rate of growth of Australia’s economy has slowed to 2.8%, in seasonally adjusted terms, down from 3.4% three months ago.
Let’s see what treasurer Josh Frydenberg has to say about this one.
The Greens are not on board
BREAKING: The Prime Minister will introduce a bill that would expand discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in schools.The #Greens will fight this all the way. #auspol pic.twitter.com/ex1NXPVCsI
Scott Morrison's proposed amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act #auspol pic.twitter.com/QwuEf9JVUk
The national accounts are out and the economy grew by 0.3% in the September quarter, taking the 12-month growth to 2.8%.
The other issue bubbling away with the bill Scott Morrison has stepped up with and waved around the prime minister’s podium?
This question: We’ve now gone from who can be in schools to the teaching of religions – are we on a collision course between the secular world and the religious world and this is part of that slope?
And this answer from the PM:
Well, what better way to resolve such a tension than let every single member of this House of Representatives vote their conscience and sort it out?
But secular (which Australia is) and religious tensions aren’t so easily resolved.
Josh Frydenberg will present the national accounts at 11.50am in the Blue Room (the second most fancy press conference space).
Student protest on the marble foyer of Parliament House pic.twitter.com/007jvlsByP
Next minute:
A very large police contingent has just arrived. Maybe 80-90 security/police here now.
Murph (Katharine Murphy) asked this in the press conference:
“You said before that there are members of the Labor party that you believe would support this proposition in a conscience vote. Is the corollary of that there are members of the government who may not support the government’s position?”“You said before that there are members of the Labor party that you believe would support this proposition in a conscience vote. Is the corollary of that there are members of the government who may not support the government’s position?”
To which Scott Morrison answered:To which Scott Morrison answered:
If there’s a conscience vote, it’s a conscience vote and I’m happy, I’m happy for that to be the case. But I’m offering it as a bipartisan deal on a conscience vote. I think members should vote their conscience on this. I don’t think that they should ... on something as fundamental as what someone believes as a matter of religious faith – that that should be whipped against them, against their will.If there’s a conscience vote, it’s a conscience vote and I’m happy, I’m happy for that to be the case. But I’m offering it as a bipartisan deal on a conscience vote. I think members should vote their conscience on this. I don’t think that they should ... on something as fundamental as what someone believes as a matter of religious faith – that that should be whipped against them, against their will.
Which, on a very basic whoosh-whoosh take, would suggest that there are people within the Coalition who have expressed reservations about the bill. Either it goes too far, or not far enough.Which, on a very basic whoosh-whoosh take, would suggest that there are people within the Coalition who have expressed reservations about the bill. Either it goes too far, or not far enough.
Or maybe not.Or maybe not.
But what about those religious schools which teach that it is not OK to be gay? Scott Morrison tries for a different example:But what about those religious schools which teach that it is not OK to be gay? Scott Morrison tries for a different example:
Let me give you a less controversial example, OK? In some churches, according to some religious faiths, they believe in tithing. They actually believe that you would tithe a percentage of your incomes to support the church you go to. In other Christian churches, they don’t teach that.Let me give you a less controversial example, OK? In some churches, according to some religious faiths, they believe in tithing. They actually believe that you would tithe a percentage of your incomes to support the church you go to. In other Christian churches, they don’t teach that.
It should be OK to teach those sorts of things in your school if that’s the religious practice of your school and you shouldn’t be able ... people might say, well, you know, you’re discriminating against people who don’t want to do that.It should be OK to teach those sorts of things in your school if that’s the religious practice of your school and you shouldn’t be able ... people might say, well, you know, you’re discriminating against people who don’t want to do that.
No. I don’t think so.No. I don’t think so.
It’s a common religious teaching that can find its root in a religious text and it’s reasonable for it to be taught.It’s a common religious teaching that can find its root in a religious text and it’s reasonable for it to be taught.
So look, I’ve got to go and do the Prime Minister’s literary awards, but let me finish where I started today. I want to get this started. I believe we can.So look, I’ve got to go and do the Prime Minister’s literary awards, but let me finish where I started today. I want to get this started. I believe we can.
This is a very simple bill that will achieve it.This is a very simple bill that will achieve it.
I would be happy to introduce it with the support of the Labor party today, to suspend standing orders and get on with it. If they’re not prepared to support this bill, fair enough, that’s been their position till now.I would be happy to introduce it with the support of the Labor party today, to suspend standing orders and get on with it. If they’re not prepared to support this bill, fair enough, that’s been their position till now.
Let’s just have a conscience vote for everybody and let’s just get it decided so we can all go back home at the end of the sitting period having this matter determined once and for all.Let’s just have a conscience vote for everybody and let’s just get it decided so we can all go back home at the end of the sitting period having this matter determined once and for all.
Asked about the specifics, Christian Porter says:Asked about the specifics, Christian Porter says:
The three changes are very simple. They work together in concert. The third of them that you focused on is a clarification that nothing in the act would prevent a religious school teaching in accordance with their own religious beliefs.The three changes are very simple. They work together in concert. The third of them that you focused on is a clarification that nothing in the act would prevent a religious school teaching in accordance with their own religious beliefs.
That is an amendment that Labor has already agreed to. They have already agreed to that amendment. It is, in actual fact, a status quo amendment.That is an amendment that Labor has already agreed to. They have already agreed to that amendment. It is, in actual fact, a status quo amendment.
Religions across Australia teach in their congregations, in their churches, in their synagogues, obviously in accordance with those beliefs.Religions across Australia teach in their congregations, in their churches, in their synagogues, obviously in accordance with those beliefs.
Those beliefs vary markedly from religion to religion, from church to church and from place to place. At the moment, the state of the law is that if someone believes they’ve been unfairly treated or there’s some speech that should be unlawful or there’s some discrimination complaints being able to be made, all this does is clarify that status quo, given there is a significant rebalancing in the act that’s going on by the removal entirely of section 38.3, which is the first part of this bill, which would be complete removal of any ability to discriminate against any student based on their gender, their sexual orientation, their relationship status or pregnancy.Those beliefs vary markedly from religion to religion, from church to church and from place to place. At the moment, the state of the law is that if someone believes they’ve been unfairly treated or there’s some speech that should be unlawful or there’s some discrimination complaints being able to be made, all this does is clarify that status quo, given there is a significant rebalancing in the act that’s going on by the removal entirely of section 38.3, which is the first part of this bill, which would be complete removal of any ability to discriminate against any student based on their gender, their sexual orientation, their relationship status or pregnancy.
So the third of these changes is a status quo change which the Labor party have already agreed to by adoption of the amendment at the second-reading stage.So the third of these changes is a status quo change which the Labor party have already agreed to by adoption of the amendment at the second-reading stage.
And on the teachers who could be fired for coming out as gay:And on the teachers who could be fired for coming out as gay:
These matters would be dealt with by courts, in specific circumstances – I’m not getting into that now – as they are now. These issues are settled in courts and Christian [Porter] may want to elaborate and comment.These matters would be dealt with by courts, in specific circumstances – I’m not getting into that now – as they are now. These issues are settled in courts and Christian [Porter] may want to elaborate and comment.
Leviticus is brought up:Leviticus is brought up:
There are two testaments, not just one. And ... religious [teaching] takes into account all of those, but the overwhelming message of the religion that I follow is one of love – and I believe love and peace is the underlying principle of all religions and that’s why they’ve had such a positive role in the development of civil society over centuries.There are two testaments, not just one. And ... religious [teaching] takes into account all of those, but the overwhelming message of the religion that I follow is one of love – and I believe love and peace is the underlying principle of all religions and that’s why they’ve had such a positive role in the development of civil society over centuries.
Asked if some religious teachings come in conflict with who some LGBT kids are, Morrison says:
I don’t see how they do. I don’t see how they do. Take, for example, a reasonable rule in a school, which says you go to chapel on Tuesday morning. That applies to the child whether they are gay or not gay. It has no bearing on their identity or their sexuality whatsoever. It’s a general rule, which is applied equally to everybody. It doesn’t discriminate. They would have to establish how they link it to their religious teaching.
... I mean, the religion I follow teaches love.
Scott Morrison:
All religions have their teachings, based on their religious texts, and they should be able to teach those texts in accordance with established religion. That’s all it means.
What practices?
Come along to church with me on Sunday and you’ll be able to hear. We’ll go ... go to the mosque on a Friday night or go to the synagogue on a Saturday. Go to the Buddhist temple, go wherever you like, and people, you know, they’re allowed to teach their religious texts. They’re allowed to teach their religious faith. And why would we want to curtail that in a free country like Australia? Why would you want to do that?
The Ruddock review response will be coming by the end of the year, apparently.
What about the teachers, Scott Morrison is asked:
Sure and this is a bill, if it’s a conscience bill, this can go into the House and people can vote their conscience. It’s very simple. I said I would deal with the issue of children in schools. That’s what I said I would deal with; that was the commitment I made and that’s what I’m following through on.
Scott Morrison:
Their leader should let them decide it in the same way that I, as the leader of the Liberal party, am prepared to let my party decide it – individually, as conscience-voting members.
Now, the attorney is here to take any questions that you have on the process that he’s been engaged in or on the specific details of this bill. But I just say I meant it when I said it. I want to resolve this.
But it’s got to be done reasonably and fairly and it’s got to take into account all the serious issues that are there and I think that’s a pretty fair statement of them and I think we should just get on with it.
Morrison:
“It’s disappointing that we have been unable to reach agreement between the parties, but I’m prepared to give it one more go. Yesterday, I wrote again to the leader of the opposition. And I put forward a proposal that did three things – [first] the complete removal of the ability to discriminate against students based on gender or sexual orientation or relationship status or pregnancy.
Secondly, a clarification that in deciding whether a school rule – a reasonable school rule – the Human Rights Commission and courts should take into account the religious nature of the school and whether the school considered the best interests of the child; and [third], a clarification that nothing in the act prevents a religious school teaching in accordance with their own religious beliefs.
And that is an amendment, that third one, that was actually supported as a second-reading amendment by the Labor party in the Senate. These should be uncontentious principles.
The removal of discrimination and the upholding of religious freedom.
I’m prepared to move that bill in the House today, that bill, which does those three things.
It would require a 76-vote majority. I’ll suspend standing orders to bring that vote on and if the Labor party and Bill Shorten are prepared to back this bill, we will vote for it today and we will get this done.
They’re the three things it does. Now, so far, the Labor party have not been prepared to agree to those three principles together, and if they can’t agree to do that, I’ll make him another offer. I’m prepared to have this dealt with as a conscience issue in my party and if he’s prepared to do the same thing, then where the parties have been unable to agree, let’s take the parties out of it, Bill.
Let’s let the elected members of the House of Representatives just decide. I’ll move this bill as the member for Cook, not as the prime minister, and I’ll participate in the debate, just like anyone else, and I’ll vote my conscience in that debate. But I actually think there’s a better way first.
This is a good bill. It actually does what I think Australians would expect us to do – look after kids for who they are but also ensure that, in this country, religious freedom still means something. And so I hope that they will accept that offer and at the very least that if they’re not prepared to accept this bill as a party, that they should let their members decide, because I know, you all know, that there are members of the Labor party who would happily support these principles.
Scott Morrison:
[I said I wanted to do something about the] issue of discrimination against children in schools [before the end of the year] . And I do. And I’ve been seeking to do just that ever since I said that.
In dealing with that issue when I wrote to the leader of the opposition, just over a month ago, I said I wanted to do it in a bipartisan way.
I said I didn’t want this to become a political football, which meant we needed to work through some very sensitive issues. There are very sensitive issues that surround this discussion.
There is the very real issue of discrimination against anyone, but particularly children. There are also the very real and principled conscience issues that relate to issues of religious freedom – that religions can be religious, that they can teach their own faith, that religious schools can be religious schools – and so we have been seeking to address that.
I put forward amendments through the attorney, who met with his counterpart. They were rejected, so we put another set of amendments, when the parliament was last sitting, and we heard nothing back from the Labor party until last week when the shadow attorney general appeared in the media.
That was disappointing, as you’ve heard me say, because I was hopeful we would be able to reach a resolution and deal with it in a bipartisan way, which, as I said, I think would send the appropriate message that we all agree that there should be no discrimination against children.
We are also standing by for the prime minister’s press conference.
This is the motion which puts the anti-discrimination bill off until next year.
Senator @MathiasCormann moving a motion in the Senate to prioritise debate on Government legislation. The Sex Discrimination Amendment (Removing Discrimination Against Students) Bill 2018 will be deferred until the next sitting period #auspol pic.twitter.com/IEcfFfQ8HI
This is happening in the foyer of parliament house as we speak:
Students, first nations people, pacific islanders and young people are gathered in parliament house Canberra to demand climate justice! #fight4future #stopadani #auspol pic.twitter.com/qNSfB8JZ6r
Students who went on strike over a lack of action on climate change and First Nations leaders have joined together for a peaceful protest in the parliamentary foyer (just inside the main entrance)
From the Australian Youth Climate Coalition release:
“As young people, we are fighting for our lives. Politicians are failing to do their job, and we’re at parliament today forcing them to face up to the impacts of climate change we’re experiencing right now and demand they stop Adani’s dangerous coalmine,” high school student Nosrat Fareha 15, said.
“This morning, the prime minister’s office hung up on our group of students 10 times, so now we’re taking our message where Scott Morrison can’t avoid it.
“Those at the forefront of today’s action, involving 100 people, are telling stories of the diverse impacts that burning coal and climate change are having for people here and now: from extreme heat and bushfires, to sea level rise, and loss of connection to culture and history. Our demands include:
●No more coal and gas: that means stopping the Adani mine● Switch Australia to 100% clean energy by 2030