The NSW Labor Opposition has signalled it will back a push to abolish laws that allow private schools to expel and discriminate against students who are homosexual, transgender, pregnant or have a disability.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, NSW Labor will back a private member's bill introduced by the Independent MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich that seeks to remove exemptions for private schools from parts of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act.
Under the Act, private schools are exempt from the rules that make it unlawful for public schools to discriminate against students based on their sexual status.
"The vast majority of non-government schools do the right thing and do not discriminate against students. However, consultation undertaken by Alex Greenwich MP has highlighted some examples of students who have had poor experiences or been subject to bullying at school," said the NSW Labor Education spokeswoman Carmel Tebbutt.
"Labor believes it is important to support this bill to demonstrate our support for tolerance and diversity and to send a clear message that discrimination against any student is unacceptable.”