In its current form it will set back our aim, as Australians, for an inclusive society which does not permit discrimination against others, including older people.
We are particularly concerned about the impact of the Religious Discrimination Legislative Package on LGBTI elders. LGBTI elders experience or fear prejudice from their peers, communities and professional services, and are more vulnerable to significant isolation as a result. These lived experiences severely impact health, wellbeing and belonging. The Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 and its related bills may well feed prejudice, impacting the rights and wellbeing of LGBTI elders today and for generations to come.