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

John Stamos explores his Greek heritage in emotional documentary

In a new documentary, Hollywood actor John Stamos embarks on a personal journey to uncover his Greek ancestry.

Actor Adam Demos opens up on his exciting new role

Australian actor Adam Demos, takes on a new challenge in Rescue: HI-Surf, where he plays lifeguard Will Ready on O‘ahu’s North Shore.

Bauhaus-inspired revival for Athens’ Faliro Bay waterfront

The European Commission has approved €370 million in funding for the Faliro Bay Metropolitan Park in Athens.

Expansion work set to begin at Athens International Airport

Preliminary construction for the expansion of Athens International Airport is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2025.

Study ranks Greece among world’s scariest places to drive

According to a recent survey by Scrap Car Comparison, Greece ranks among the most nerve-wracking places to drive in the world.

You May Also Like

New tax laws in Greece lure investors during economic boom

PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced a series of incentives to attract the global rich to invest in Greece. On Thursday, the government revealed a...

Heartbeat of Football to hold inaugural Heart Health Round

Andy Paschalidis' organisation, Heartbeat of Football, to hold inaugural Heart Health Round in April this year.

Inaugural Global ‘Women and Hellenism’ Conference kicks off in Ioannina

A warm welcome in Ioannina, Greece marked the start of the inaugural Global ‘Women and Hellenism’ Conference.