Australia’s Northern Territory Government is under intensifying pressure to abandon proposed changes to its Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 (ADA), which advocacy groups warn could leave vulnerable Territorians exposed to hate speech and workplace discrimination. Critics say the proposed amendments would make the NT the only Australian jurisdiction without protection against vilification.
A joint letter, signed by 28 legal, education, faith, union, and LGBTQIA+ organisations—including Equality Australia, Top End Pride, Anglicare NT, and the Independent Education Union—was sent to Chief Minister Eva Lawler urging the government to retain the anti-vilification and anti-discrimination protections passed in 2023.
“Your government’s planned changes to the ADA would send us backwards, stripping vulnerable Territorians of protections and wilfully exposing them to hate speech and discrimination,” the letter states.
“Every Territorian deserves to live, study and work with dignity and respect.”
Potential Rollback of Key Protections
The Country Liberal Party (CLP) has signalled intentions to repeal Section 20A, which provides protection from vilification, and to reinstate Section 37A, an exemption that allows religious schools to discriminate against staff based on their sexuality, gender identity, or marital status.
If implemented, these changes would make the NT the only part of Australia without any legal safeguards against public vilification.
Advocates say the rollback would disproportionately harm women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, single parents, and other marginalised communities.
“Section 20A ensures Territorians are protected from the public incitement of hatred,” the letter continues.
“Vilification laws like 20A are preventative—they stop hatred early, before it escalates into more serious, violent conduct.”
Community Leaders and Legal Experts Speak Out
Equality Australia’s Legal Director, Heather Corkhill, warned of the social consequences:
“Every Territorian should be able to walk down the street without the threat of being harassed or abused, and no staff member should ever fear losing their job because of the family they go home to at the end of the day.”
“At a time when hate is rising across the country and many communities are feeling unsafe, the Northern Territory should be strengthening protections, not taking them away.”
Top End Pride Chairperson Nina Rose Pardo condemned the proposed changes:
“The NT Government’s proposed reforms increase the risk to women, LGBTQIASB+ people, single parents and other minority communities of being victims of vilification and hate in public, and discrimination in educational institutions.”
“This year we celebrate 40 years of Darwin Pride… Instead of partnering with the government, we are required to call on the government to protect and support the LGBTIQASB+ community.”
2023 Reforms Widely Supported
The 2023 amendments to the ADA were praised as a long-overdue modernisation that aligned the NT with other Australian jurisdictions. Passed after extensive consultation, the reforms required religious schools to meet the same anti-discrimination standards as other workplaces, while allowing them to maintain faith-based principles through “genuine occupational requirements.”
Critics now argue that reintroducing religious exemptions would give these schools a legal right to discriminate.
“School staff and students shouldn’t suffer discrimination due to their personal lives,” said Independent Education Union Federal Secretary Brad Hayes.
“Faith-based school employers simply don’t need these exemptions. They have shown their capacity to prosper and build communities of faith without a special right to discriminate.”
Concerns About Employment and Social Harmony
Sally Sievers, CEO of the Northern Territory Council of Social Service (NTCOSS), warned of the impact on regional workforce participation:
“Finding workforce in the Territory is hard enough—why would we reintroduce legislation that could restrict the pool of workers even further?”
The coalition is urging the NT Government to meet with affected communities before proceeding with any rollback and to ensure robust consultation.
“All Territorians should be able to live free from hate speech and discrimination, regardless of who they love or where they come from,” the letter concludes.
