Liberal MP Fiona Martin shares why she crossed the floor for Religious Discrimination Bill

·

First-term Liberal MP, Fiona Martin, was one of five party members who crossed the Parliamentary floor last Thursday to pass Labor amendments to the government’s Religious Discrimination Bill.

The bill was a packaged deal that was accompanied by a proposal to amend s38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act, which gives religious schools a legal exemption to discriminate against students on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

READ MORE: ‘We are very vulnerable’: Fiona Martin MP warns national mental health will take time.

READ MORE: ‘It fills the void’: Attorney-General and Immigration Minister discuss Religious Discrimination Bill.

Dr Martin supported the government’s centrepiece Religious Discrimination Bill, but half an hour later crossed the floor to vote for an amendment to scrap s38(3) provision entirely, extending protections to transgender students as well.

In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Dr Martin, who has two decades worth of experience as a child psychologist, said she had to cross the floor to defend her principles.

READ MORE: Fiona Martin MP calls for ‘critically significant’ reform of mental health system.

Fiona Martin MP.

“This is what defines me as a human. I’ve dedicated my life to child psychology, and then to support something that hurts these vulnerable people that I’ve actually worked with just goes against everything that I stand for,” Dr Martin said in the interview.

“In the end, I wanted a guarantee that our kids were going to be protected and there did not seem to be any certainty there.”

Ultimately the law currently remains unchanged. While the religious discrimination package passed the Lower House, the government shelved the bill before it could be debated in the Senate.

READ MORE: Fiona Martin MP launches ‘Liberal Friends of Greece’ initiative.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Michael Kratsios sworn in as head of White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Michael Kratsios has been officially sworn in as the new head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

Hellenic flavour at Assyrian New Year festival in Sydney

The Senior Dancers of Sydney's Pontoxeniteas NSW were special guests at this year's Assyrian New Year festival in western Sydney on Sunday.

Greek leaders extend condolences following devastating Myanmar earthquake

Rescue efforts continue in central Myanmar following a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake on March 28, which killed over 1,700 people.

Archbishop Ioannis enthroned as Primate of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania

In a joyful and historic ceremony on March 29, 2025, Archbishop Ioannis (Pelushi) was officially enthroned.

Prime Ministers of Greece and Israel discuss security and peace efforts in meeting

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Israel on Sunday, March 30, emphasising the strong defence ties between the two nations.

You May Also Like

#KeepItGreek: Unmissable Greek rock concert is now available online

For #KeepItGreek this week, The Greek Herald is bringing the pulse and liveliness of Greek concerts to the comfort of your home.

Police launch search for schoolgirls who disappeared from Sydney homes

Police have launched a desperate search for two schoolgirls who disappeared from their homes in south west Sydney on Wednesday night.  Sandy Alsalihi and Elisa...

Turkey issues fresh NAVTEX warnings demanding demilitarisation of 6 Greek islands

The Turkish navy has issued three NAVTEX warnings demanding the demilitarisation of Samothraki, Lemnos, Chios, Samos, Tilos and Halki.