IEU Secretary Carol Matthews talks to ABC TV news.
On 14 October, ABC TV news interviewed IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews about NSW independent MP Alex Greenwich’s decision to drop anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ teachers, school staff and students from his Equality Bill.
Under current NSW anti-discrimination law, non-government school employers can discriminate against school staff by terminating their employment because of their sexual orientation or transgender status. They can also discriminate on the grounds of gender, disability, and marital status.
While the union recognises the right of faith-based schools to build a community of faith, staff in those schools are also entitled to protections at law.
“Our members are also an important group who need human rights, so we are bitterly disappointed [by Mr Greenwich’s Bill],” Matthews said on ABC TV news.
Mr Greenwich dropped the proposed protections from his Equality Bill citing a review of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977, referred to the NSW Law Reform Commission by the NSW Labor government in July 2023.
“But we are disappointed Mr Greenwich did not consult the union representing the teachers and school staff who are impacted by his decision,” Matthews said in a statement to the media.
“There are no guarantees this long-running review will recommend protections for teachers and school staff in faith-based schools.
“We believe our members deserve the same protections as the wider community.”
Mr Greenwich subsequently reached out to the IEU to request a meeting, to be held on 13 November (after Newsmonth went to press).
The Equality Bill passed NSW Parliament on 17 October.
The IEU will continue to lobby the NSW government for anti-discrimination protections for our members.