[Greens-Media] Greens bill would guard against Wollongong Christian school discrimination

[Alison Orme]

MEDIA RELEASE - 15 May 2006

Greens bill would guard against Wollongong Christian school
discrimination

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon says reports of a Christian school in Wollongong
attempting to force out three students with an intellectual disability
underline why the major parties should support the Greens bill that
closes loopholes in the Anti-Discrimination Act which allow private
schools to discriminate against children with a disability. 

"As the law now stands in NSW these students would have no right to
complain about the treatment they reportedly received from Cedars
Christian College at Farmborough Heights," said Greens education
spokesperson Lee Rhiannon.

"While in NSW a public school must accept every student who enrols,
including those with a disability, this is not the case for private
schools despite the fact they receive significant federal and state
funding.

"The Greens have a private members bill before NSW Parliament which
seeks to remove these outdated exemptions from the NSW
Anti-Discrimination Act.

"The government and the opposition have both said they will not
support our bill, despite widespread community support for closing off
the loopholes. 

"Private schools in NSW can now discriminate against students and
teachers because they have a disability or are lesbian or gay.

"Labor's inaction in removing these exemptions, with the
Opposition's compliance, show how the major parties still fear the
church just as they did in 1977 when the loopholes to NSW
anti-discrimination laws were created. 

"I invite Premier Iemma to publicly explain to the families of these
children with a disability how he can justify not changing the laws that
allow such brutal actions by a so called Christian school to reportedly
take place," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568



Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Tues, Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au