AACS Meets with WA Attorney General

Yesterday AACS CEO, Vanessa Cheng and Nicole Pleysier, State Executive Officer for Christian Education National, met with the Western Australian Attorney General, Hon Dr Tony Buti MLA, to discuss the State Government’s proposed reforms to the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 and its intention to introduce laws banning "conversion practices".

In the meeting, Ms Cheng highlighted the importance of maintaining the ability of Christian schools to operate according to their faith-based values, both in employment and enrolment practices. Key concerns raised included the Government's plans to implement recommendations of the WA Law Reform Commission Report by amending the  Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA). Key issues raised include:

Recommendation 79 which proposes a restrictive ‘inherent requirements’ test for employment in religious schools, limiting this to only a few roles such as chaplains or religious education teachers, undermining the abiliity of Christian schools to cultivate a community of shared faith and values.

Recommendation 81, which limits enrolment decisions based on religious conviction, making it harder to maintain a Christian culture throughout the school community.

In addition to the Equal Opportunity reforms, AACS raised concerns about the Government’s plans to ban "conversion practices", warning that laws modelled on the Victorian approach risk Government overreach. While affirming strong opposition to coercive and harmful practices, AACS cautioned that poorly defined laws could criminalise voluntary prayer, pastoral care and professional counselling on matters of sexuality or gender. Ms Cheng emphasised the need to protect the ability of Christian teachers and chaplains to support students with compassion and honesty and highlighted international reviews, such as the UK’s Cass Review, which question the safety of affirmation-only models for gender-questioning youth.

AACS is committed to ongoing respectful dialogue with the WA Government and continues to advocate for laws that protect all members of society without undermining the ability of Christian schools to remain faithful to their mission and beliefs.