Liberal MP Dave Sharma says his position on the religious discrimination bill "hasn't changed," as Prime Minister Scott Morrison doubles down on reintroducing the failed proposal if re-elected.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he will be taking the religious discrimination bill “forward” but as standalone legislation.
The bill was earlier this year shelved after both parties voted not to debate the legislation in the Senate.
Liberal's Trent Zimmerman, Bridget Archer, Fiona Martin, Katie Allen and Dave Sharma crossed the floor to vote with Labor's amendments for LGBTQ+ students in the Sex Discrimination Act.
The five MPs backed Labor in support of a crossbench amendment to provide stronger protections to include transgender students.
"My position on this has not changed, I believe that religious people and people of faith should deserve protection against discrimination on the grounds of their faith," Mr Sharma told Sky News Australia.
"But I also believe ... students and teachers should not be discriminated against in religious schools on account of their sexual orientation or their gender identity.
"I think both those propositions can be true at the same time and any legislation needs to reflect both of those viewpoints."
