In South Australia, a religious school can legally fire a teacher for being gay and a religious-run shelter can refuse service to a teenager on the same grounds.

We believe it's time for the Malinauskas government to finally remove religious exemptions to the state's equal opportunity laws.

We have been advocating for reform on this matter for a number of years – and especially since the previous Liberal state government held a public consultation process into its draft proposal to remove the religious-based exemptions.

Following the election of the Labor government in 2022, Attorney-General Kyam Maher told us he would “give further consideration” to the matter.

Yet nothing has happened.

We welcome a new proposal from Greens upper house member Robert Simms to address the issue.

With his amendment bill expected to be introduced and debated in the Legislative Council as soon as this week, now is a great time to make your voice heard.

If you have a few moments to spare, please send an email today to Attorney-General Maher to urge the government to take action on this issue. Find his contact details here.

Also, if you have time to do more, it would be helpful to let your upper house representative know that it is time to remove these exemptions. Find their contact details here.

We have written our own letter to the Attorney-General. Read about it here.

It's time for the South Australian government to do the right thing by the LGBTIQ community and remove this remaining vestige of discrimination.

Regards, 

Si Gladman

Executive Director, 

Rationalist Society of Australia