Huge protest against plans to stop Christian schools from choosing staff who share their values: ‘Attack on faith and freedom’

A huge rally has been held in Adelaide to protest proposed changes to
discrimination laws that will stop Christian schools from rejecting
applicants who don’t share their values.

The Faith in Our Future event at the Tyndale Christian School in Salisbury
East on Wednesday night involved teachers, parents, students and their
supporters who are concerned with recommendations from an Australian Law
Reform Commission (ALRC) report described as “an appalling attack on faith
and freedom of belief in Australia”.

Footage of the event shows the school hall packed with opponents of the
recommendations, which Associated Christian Schools executive director for
public policy and advocacy Alistair Macpherson said would stop parents from
being able to choose a school that accords with their beliefs and ethics.

A mother with a son at the school who attended the rally told The
Advertiser: “I don’t necessarily agree with the kinds of things that go on
in public schools and I’d like to let him grow up in our own faith”.

Another mum, whose two daughters attend Tyndale, said: “There are children
of other faiths (at Tyndale) and we find that it’s a way of being able to
give our children some world experience, but with the safety net of knowing
that all of the staff here at Tyndale share the same faith as we do.

“And that’s what we think is important because in other sectors, there are
differences in what’s taught.”

The rally comes after a Melbourne public school was exposed for running a
“queer club”, facilitated by a far-left LGBT activist teacher.

A video by Celine Baumgarten on the club at Montmorency South Primary
School was then blocked by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, resulting in
global attention and an appeal filed by Ms Baumgarten with the assistance
of the Free Speech Union of Australia.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, who is Jewish, has drafted legislation based
on the ALRC report, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday the
government was awaiting a response from the Opposition, who were handed a
copy in March.

Mr Dreyfus’ office said at the time: “No Australian should be discriminated
against because of who they are or what they believe.

“The Government will seek to enhance protections in anti-discrimination law
in a way that brings Australians together.

“Just as Commonwealth law already prohibits discrimination on the basis of
race, gender, sexuality, disability and age, no one should be discriminated
against because of their faith.”

But Christian Schools Australia (CSA), Australian Association of Christian
Schools (AACS) and Associated Christian Schools (ACS) said if the
recommendations were adopted “Christian education as we know it will cease
to exist”.

CSA Director of Public Policy Mark Spencer said: “Hundreds of thousands of
Australian parents choose to send their children to faith-based schools
because they value this type of education.

“They enrol their children knowing that our teachers and staff are aligned
with our beliefs and that students will be taught according to our beliefs.

“If these recommendations are adopted, parents would lose this right, and
the government has no right to remove this choice.”

He said it was important that the government understands that “Christian
schools are communities of faith, where Christian teachers and staff engage
with students from a faith perspective both inside and outside the
classroom and are expected to be available for Christian devotion, prayer
and support”.

“A staff member who doesn’t share and support our beliefs cannot
effectively teach our beliefs or support students according to our
beliefs,” Mr Spencer said.

AACS Executive Officer Vanessa Cheng called it “a line in the sand moment
not just for Christian schools, but for all people of faith and for the
principle of religious freedom across Australia”.

“If these ALRC recommendations are adopted, it means the government can
tell Christian schools who we can employ, what we can believe and teach. It
sets a scary precedent, and the question Australians need to ask is ‘who’s
next’? Will they dictate to any other religious group or organisation what
they can believe?”

She said the issue is not about discrimination but is about the right of
parents to choose a school that teaches traditional Christian values and
beliefs.

“Teachers and other employees who don’t share our faith or beliefs have the
choice to work at many other educational options.”

She said that schools’ codes of conduct for teachers and staff reflect
their faith beliefs and often include Christian teachings around sexuality
and marriage, which are a core part of their faith.

“These core beliefs cannot be separated from our Christian faith and
parents are choosing our schools for these values.”

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