Leaders of several religious groups in the Northern Territory have joined forces to raise concerns over proposed changes to anti-discrimination laws, warning the NT government of a voter backlash if the changes are legislated.
The Territory's Labor government is expected to pass the reforms when parliament sits this week, with LGBTQI+ groups saying the legislation includes important protections.
But speaking on Saturday out the front of St Mary's Cathedral in Darwin, NT Bishop Charles Gauci and Christian Schools NT chief executive Phoebe Van Bentum said the proposed changes could end up removing faith from religious schools.
"We are not about discriminating against people ... but when they come to our schools, the teaching they uphold in the public stance needs to be in line and respectful," Bishop Gauci said.
Ms van Bentum said the changes would "completely remove the protections for religious schools to employ people of the same belief".
Among those backing the comments were members of the Islamic, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist community.
Chief among the religious groups' concerns is the repealing of existing laws which allows churches and schools to impose a religious requirement for teaching jobs.
"[The changes] are completely contrary to the longstanding tradition we have had in Australia. That tradition is for religious schools being able to operate schools in their own ethos and religious principles."
Bishop Gauci said the proposed reforms risked imposing a form of "reverse discrimination" in which schools would be unable to hire teachers and executives based on their adherence to the religious beliefs.
"No other jurisdiction has proposed or enacted laws as strict as this present law is enacting," he said.
Bishop Gauci said looming elections would allow religious groups to present the facts to voters, warning there were thousands of Territorians who attended church.
"I am not involved in party politics and I want to stay above party politics, and I'm not about supporting one party versus another.
"I'm about speaking the truth as it is and letting people decide for themselves."
Pride group praises changes
While religious groups are expressing their concerns, the reforms are being praised by the Territory's LGBTQ+ community.
Top End Pride Committee member Paige Horrigan said protecting against discrimination based on sexuality would create more-inclusive learning environments.
"It's going to greatly impact the community and provide more opportunities for LGBTQ+ people in the education system, that in the religious education system … haven't previously existed, which is going to be really great to see and create a lot more acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community," they said.
They also added the harm for students at religious schools — to see gender or sexuality diverse people rejected for employment — could have a negative impact on their wellbeing.
"A young person seeing that someone like them being rejected from a job that they are so often around, it can be quite disheartening and [they can] think, 'Oh, will I not be able to get a job when I'm older just because of who I am?'"
In response to questions from the ABC, the Northern Territory's Attorney-General, Chansey Paech, held firm on the the proposed legislation, saying it had been "extensively consulted since 2017".
Bishop Gauci rejected this, and said the government had done "very, very little" consultation over the changes.
Mr Paech pointed to exemptions within the existing legislation that would allow religious schools and all employers to select candidates for roles based on "genuine occupational qualification".
"This [legislation] is not about eroding religious freedoms, it's about enhancing protections against discrimination so that staff at faith-based schools have the same protections against discrimination as staff at non-faith based schools, and workers generally," he said.
"The reforms ensure our anti-discrimination legislation is reflective of contemporary needs, and builds upon the objects of the legislation which includes equality of opportunity."
