Positive Changes to NT Anti-Discrimination Laws

The Australian Association of Christian Schools (AACS) has welcomed the introduction of the Anti-Discrimination Amendment Bill 2025 in the Northern Territory Parliament today, following a sustained three year advocacy campaign in partnership with other faith-based organisations.

The Bill introduces a range of important reforms to restore fundamental freedoms of religion and free speech for Terrritorians, including:

• Resotoring legal protections for religious educational institutions, allowing schools to preference to employ individuals who share the religious beliefs of the school;
• A stronger threshold for vilification provisions, replacing vague language with more precise terms: conduct that “incites hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule."

CEO of the Australian Association of Christian Schools, Vanessa Cheng, said the changes represent a significant win for faith communities and schools seeking to uphold their religious ethos and values. "We applaud the CLP Government for taking this important step to fulfil their election commitment and restore fundamental human freedoms."

Earlier this year in March, AACS participated in a Roundtable discussion hosted by the Attorney-General the Hon Marie-Clare Boothby. The meeting brought together a wide range of religious leaders from the Christian, Catholic, Lutheran and Greek Orthodox communites, all of whom shared common concerns about the impact of the 2022 changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act on freedom of religion and belief. The Roundtable provided a respectful and constructive forum to raise the practical implications these laws were having on faith communities, including the ability of Christian schools to employ staff who share their values and beliefs and to teach according to their faith-based ethos.

NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said: “We opposed Labor's changes from the beginning. In the lead-up to the election, we promised to restore freedom while ensuring appropriate protections. Today, we are delivering on that promise.”

AACS acknowledges this as a significant step forward and a positive example of how genuine engagement with stakeholders can lead to better public policy outcomes resulting in enduring protections for religious schools.  We are grateful to the Attorney-General for her willingness to listen and to NT Christian Schools for their partnership in these advocacy efforts.

We will continue to monitor the Bill’s progress through the consultation phase and remain committed to ensuring the rights of Christian schools are upheld in the Northern Territory and across all the nation.

Read the Bill HERE

Read the Explanatory Statement HERE