I am writing to share my concern about the ALRC recommendations for religious schools. Parents have a right – that is supported in international human rights law – to choose schooling that provides religious and moral education that aligns with their convictions. The ALRC recommendations would remove this right. Please use your influence to see that the ALRC properly addresses the Terms of Reference, and ensures that religious schools can continue to operate according to their ethos.

I am calling on the Albanese Government and key leaders to reject the ALRC recommendations which will effectively end Christian schooling in Australia. The ALRC proposal is out of step with the stated government position to allow religious schools and educational institutions to hire staff who share their ethos. It would also force these organisations to become agents of ideologies which are completely opposite to their deeply held beliefs on sexuality and gender. Please defend the rights of parents to choose an authentic religious education for their children, and reject the ALRC recommendations to undermine Christian schools.

I am strongly opposed to the ALRC recommendations for religious schools – which will prevent them from operating according to their ethos. The Albanese government promised to protect the right of religious schools to hire staff and operate according to their ethos. Yet the ALRC discussion paper seeks to restrict them in who they hire and how they operate, effectively ending authentic Christian education. I would ask you, and other key leaders, to take a stand to protect the right of religious schools to exist, and protect the rights of parents to choose a religious education for their children. It is extremely disappointing that these basic rights are under threat.

I am writing to convey my objection to the ALRC recommendations for religious schools. They must be rejected! Thousands of children benefit from religious schools nationwide and their parents have chosen that education for them – which is an international human right. The ALRC recommendations will prevent religious schools from hiring staff and operating according to their ethos, even while all other groups (including political groups) face no such restrictions. This is wrong! I urge you to reject the ALRC proposal and allow religious schools to operate according to their ethos.