The government has teamed up with Centre Alliance MPs to shut down debate on Labor’s bill which would have protected LGBTIQ+ students from being expelled from religious based schools.
The move saw an outraged Senator Penny Wong calling on the government to call an election and allow the Australian people to vote for a change of government.
When elements of the Ruddock Review into the issue of religious freedom were leaked to the media many were surprised to discover that religious based schools were allowed to expel students and fire teachers over their sexuality.
At first government MP’s defended the laws, but in the wake of polls showing a significant majority of Australians did not support the laws the Prime Minister vowed to remove the laws as soon as possible. The government was unable to create legislation that the Labor party were willing to support, with Labor insisting that both teachers and students be protected.
This week Labor agreed to set aside the issue of teachers and put forward legislation that would offer protection to students. This morning the legislation was debated but it came to end when the government with the support of the Centre Alliance voted to delay any further debate.
“I think that has just belled the cat, hasn’t it?” a livid Senator Wong said.
“The whole purpose of the shenanigans we have been through, aided and abetted by Central Alliance, who contrary to their indication that they would support LGBTIQ kids, have walked in here and helped Senator Cormann put off a vote on a bill they reckon they support, and this is a bill that Mr Morrison supports.
“Let us be clear, the only reason why we have had the shenanigans we have just seen, no notice, coming in and upending the Senate, overturning the previous agreement of the Senate to vote on that legislation for which there was broad support in this chamber by ten to two, the only reason he had to walk in and suspend standing orders and pervert the process of the Senate, is because he is worried about the House of Representatives.
Senator Wong said the Prime Minister was more concerned with the survival of his government in the House of Representatives.
“He has lost control. This is an indication of the chaos that is the Morrison Government. That they have to upend the Senate and not vote on protecting LGBTIQ kids, because they are so worried about the lack of control they have of the House of Representatives.
“Do you know what the decent thing to do would be? Call an election! Call an election and stop perverting the processes of the Senate.”
Senator Wong said the government had just voted against a position that their own Prime Minister had been a vocal supporter of, and suggested that the Prime Minister may not have been honest in his statements of support during the Wentworth by-election.
The Greens senator Janet Rice said the government’s move was an appaling use of senate procedures. “This is an appalling use of Senate process, and it is leaving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in despair.”
Senator Cormann said the government was still supportive of removing the legislation which allows LGBTIQ students to be expelled, but recognised that many members of the crossbench had expressed a need to have more time to consider the legislation.
Senator Cormann said the government was ensuring that the government was senate had sufficient time to consider all the issues.
“We want to see if pass, but we want to see it passed in an amendment form. We thank the senate for having made a sensible decision today and for having backed our judgement.” Senator Cormann said.
With only a few parliamentary sessions likely to occur in the first half of the year is it unlikely the legislation will be discussed again before the federal election.
OIP Staff
