Parliament blocks tabling of school letters on marriage

While speaking on amendments he moved to the legislation which enacted same-sex marriage, Mr Hastie sought leave to table letters from schools associations which raised concerns about the legislation.

However, in a rare move, Labor members of parliament refused him permission to table the letters from organisations, many of which represent schools in the Peel region.

Mr Hastie said his amendments to the same-sex marriage legislation were to “protect Australians who support traditional marriage based on their religious or conscientious views” and he wanted to table the letters to demonstrate there was real concern in his local community.

“As a Liberal, I stand for freedom of conscience, as well as religious and parental rights,” he said.

“My amendment was voted down by Labor.

“They opposed the right of parents to withdraw their children from radical programs like Safe Schools.”

The letters from school associations represented a number local schools in the Peel region including Frederick Irwin Anglican College, Foundation Christian College, Mandurah Baptist College, Living Waters Lutheran College, Byford John Calvin School, Serpentine Jarrahdale Grammar School and Southern Hills Christian College.

Mr Hastie said Labor had silenced teachers concerned about religious freedom.

But Labor MP Andrew Giles, who represents an electorate in Melbourne and blocked Mr Hastie’s move to present the letters to parliament, said he was “concerned at introducing a large number of materials, unseen by me or other MPs”.

“This was particularly so where there could be no right of reply, and in circumstances where LGBTI Australians had been subject to hurtful statements through the postal survey – a matter I highlighted in my speech on the bill,” he said.

“And let's be clear: not only did those voices have many chances to be heard, so too did Mr Hastie.

“He also could have quoted from any of these letters, had he chosen to do so.”