Weekend Wrap for 26 February 2023

Lyndsay Connors: If the private school sector is ‘too big to fail’, why make it bigger?
"Funding private schools now costs the federal taxpayer $16 billion annually. Recurrent funding from Canberra now exceeds the private school sector’s total teaching staff salary bill. Australia’s school system has been weakened through cumulative decisions by both major parties in government, including through cost and blame-shifting. ... There would be no harm to students if state funding were removed from those non-government schools where private income – from high fees and parent contributions – add up to twice (or more) the amount of their base resource standard. The main effect of this funding is to enable more private funding to be channelled into non-educational facilities such as subterranean carparks." (20 Feb 2023)
Read more at the Sydney Morning Herald

Kevin Donnelly: Religious schools must be allowed to keep the right to discriminate.
"In an increasingly multicultural, multi-faith society like Australia it is vital that all faith-based schools, regardless of their religious character, have the freedom to best reflect the needs and aspirations of their various communities. The uniquely religious nature of faith-based schools must be protected. Students who attended Christian schools, based on a Cardus Education Survey, are more civic-minded than graduates of government schools, as measured by involvement in political parties, professional associations, sporting and cultural groups. The idea of removing the right that religious schools currently have to discriminate over staffing and enrolments represents a fundamental attack on religious freedom." (21 Feb 2023)
Read more at the Sydney Morning Herald

The Advocate Editorial: Little need for discrimination in religious schools.
"The outcry from some religious institutions over proposed changes to anti-discrimination laws is, in a word, fearmongering. Religious education is not under threat; though it may be worth considering if it should still attract public funding. Those who say they are fighting for "religious freedom" are really arguing for the right to continue to discriminate against others on grounds that would otherwise be unlawful in our society." (21 Feb 2023)
Read more at The Advocate

Liam Elphick: Religious schools can still expel LGBTQ kids. That needs to change.
"Exemptions in discrimination law often seek to balance the importance of other rights, such as religious freedom, with freedom from discrimination. But in the exemptions for religious schools, this line is drawn heavily in favour of religion. These exemptions mean that religious schools can exclude kids who come out as gay or transgender, or treat them differently to other kids. Schools can refuse to hire, deny promotion or sack teachers who are pregnant or single mothers. If the Law Reform Commission’s proposals are implemented, LGBTQ students and teachers will finally be protected from discrimination. They would be able to go to school and work as their true selves, without the threat of exclusion hanging over them." (22 Feb 2023)
Read more at the Sydney Morning Herald

Steven Coxhead: Should premillennialism be considered a “Christian extremist ideology”?
"As a citizen of this country, I was shocked and profoundly disturbed by the murder of two police officers and an innocent civilian by the Trains in Wieambilla in December 2022. This was a heinous crime that should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. As a Christian theologian, I was also startled to hear the Queensland Police describe this crime as 'a religiously motivated terrorist attack' on the basis that Nathaniel, Gareth, and Stacey Train subscribed to 'a broad Christian fundamentalist belief system, known as premillennialism.'" (23 Feb 2023)
Read more at ABC Religion & Ethics

Paul Gregoire: Nonreligious Marginalised as NSW Privileges Religious Voice, Warns Rationalist Society’s Meredith Doig.
"At a dinner of state faith leaders on 7 November, NSW Labor leader Chris Minns announced that if his party takes out the March state election, it will establish the NSW Faith Affairs Council, which will act as an advisory body to the executive on matters that affect religious organisations. The council will incorporate representatives from a range of religions, and to reflect this multifaith basis, Labor plans on broadening the multicultural portfolio to incorporate religious affairs, with the Faith Affairs Council having a direct line to consult the minister. ... While critics are wary of prioritising religious leaders in shaping social policies, as, not only do they fail to represent much of the diversifying constituency, but often, these clerics don’t even hold the same opinion as many of the adherents of their religious organisations do." (23 Feb 2023)
Read more at Sydney Criminal Lawyers

Anthony Klan: Christian group 'linked' to Premier Perrottet's brother allegedly gutted Council.
"A far-right 'Christian' group allegedly linked the NSW Premier's brother was likely involved in illegally funnelling property developer cash to stack a Sydney Council, an inquiry has heard. In 2019 it emerged there was a 'conservative Christian plot' to 'take control' of the NSW Liberal Party. The Sydney Morning Herald revealed a secretive entity called the NSW Reformers was 'working to recruit 5000 Christian conservatives to the NSW Liberals' to 'take control of the state division of the Party'." (23 Feb 2023)
Read more at Independent Australia