LGBTIQ advocates have said the Coalition’s proposed amendments to protect LGBT students from discrimination in religious schools could make things worse, as action on the issue is delayed until the new year due to political deadlock.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison proposed a conscience vote on Wednesday – the second last sitting day of parliament for the year – on government amendments after the Coalition and Labor failed to reach an agreement on how to change the Sex Discrimination Act to protect LGBT students, despite both parties supporting the move.

The government’s amendments would “completely remove the ability to discriminate against students based on gender or sexual orientation or relationship status or pregnancy” and insert a clarification that “nothing in the act prevents a religious school teaching in accordance with their own religious beliefs.”

The amendment states “teaching activity” will not be unlawful if it “in good faith in accordance with the doctrines, tenets, beliefs or teachings of a particular religion or creed” and “is done by, or with the authority of, an educational institution that is conducted in accordance with those doctrines, tenets, beliefs or teachings”.

The changes would also require the Human Rights Commission to consider the best interests of the student and the religious nature of the school when determining whether a rule was reasonable.

“[The government’s legislation] actually does what I think Australians would expect us to do – look after kids for who they are but also ensure that, in this country, religious freedom still means something,” Morrison said on Wednesday.

“All religions have their teachings, based on their religious texts, and they should be able to teach those texts in accordance with established religion.”

‘Deeply flawed and should be voted down’

But just.equal spokesperson Rodney Croome said the “deeply flawed” amendments had been rushed and could make things worse.

“The legislation announced today allows discrimination to continue against LGBTI students, and potentially broadens it out to other students,” he said.

“The ‘teaching activity’ provision in the legislation applies to all attributes covered in the Act. It excuses direct and indirect discrimination. Indeed, it is so broad it is hard to see what wouldn’t be allowed. Read more via QNews