NSW Anti-discrimination bill supported by Labor

Not that it'll make much difference on the floor of the lower house being as Labor was just about obliterated in the last State election, but in any case they've put their support behind a new bill in the New South Wales parliament. This bill would end the legal right for private schools to discriminate against gay students.

Perhaps there will be some support from the conservative side of politics? Sexuality in my opinion isn't a left or right issue as gays come in all shapes and sizes, and political persuasion. It would seem to me that defending a child struggling with their sexuality from discrimination would be a no brainer. 

Greenwich said: “Ending discrimination against vulnerable students should be above politics, and something that concerns all members of parliament and the wider community.” 

Greenwich said many students had shared harrowing stories of discrimination with him: "From threats of expulsion because of sexuality to sending students to a counsellor weekly to "fix their sexuality" and overt bullying in the classroom, the experiences some students are allowed to go through is appalling and it is time the law allowed these students access to the Anti-Discrimination Board" more

I imagine if the bill does get up and passed the churches will be howling in protest. To me this also is a no brainer; how much public money do these schools get? A bloody shit load. Since they're getting public money then surely the state must have a say in policies that use religion to discriminate against gay students. 

Update:

The churches are already howling:

Two-thirds of NSW people are opposed to laws allowing private schools to discriminate against or expel students on the basis of their sexuality, a phone poll has revealed. 

But groups representing many private and religious schools warn that if a bill to change the law is successful, it could threaten their religious freedom and leave them open to litigation for operating the schools in accordance with their faith. 

Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has put a private member's bill before the NSW Parliament to amend the Anti-Discrimination Act and remove the exemption for private schools prohibiting the expulsion of students because they are gay. Read more

I love the quote from the video the other day, "Religious freedom ends when discrimination begins". It's astonishing that the churches see "operating the schools in accordance with their faith" includes discrimination.