Religious freedom to be protected under equal opportunity changes
Source: Victoria. The Attorney General
"The Brumby Labor Government will better balance the right of individuals to be free from discrimination and the right to religious freedom under changes proposed to the Equal Opportunity Act. The changes would narrow the scope of the current religious exemptions to ensure that religious groups can no longer discriminate on the grounds of race, disability, age, physical features, political belief or activity, and breastfeeding.
But religious groups would continue to be able to discriminate on other grounds including sexuality or marital status if it was in accordance with their beliefs. Mr Hulls said that in striking the balance between religious freedom and protection from discrimination, it was recognised that religious groups should be allowed to discriminate on some grounds if it was in accordance with their beliefs. "