The controversial religious discrimination bill is one step closer to becoming law after it passed the House of Representatives in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The bill passed with 90 votes in favour and six against - but the gruelling debate dominated the lower house after five Liberal MPs defied the Morrison government by crossing the floor in favour of Labor's amendments to the bill.
In an amendment proposed by crossbench MP Rebekha Sharkie, section 38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act will not allow religious schools and educational institutions to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or relationship status or pregnancy.
The amendments will prohibit vilification of and discrimination against children based on sexuality and gender identity, protecting all LGBTIQ+ students.
The Liberal MPs Trent Zimmerman, Bridget Archer, Fiona Martin, Katie Allen and Dave Sharma voted against the government to amend the bill, with the vote landing 65-59.
Here is what they had to say:
Trent Zimmerman
North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman publicly expressed his discomfort with voting in favour of the bill without amendments to protect trans students from the threat of being expelled because of their gender identity.
"I cannot support a situation where we solve a problem for one community but in fact enhance for another," he said.
Mr Zimmerman, who is an openly gay man, said if the bill was to be passed without the amendment, it would "send a message" to the transgender community that he described as the "most vulnerable community".
Liberal member for North Sydney Trent Zimmerman. Source: AAP
He shared his own personal experiences of hiding his sexuality at school in parliament to explain the unfairness of the bill for children at schools.
"Like so many of my peers, I went through that long period of struggling with my sexuality, where I lived in fear of discovery ... it's debilitating.
"I cannot stand by and do anything which makes their situation more difficult."
Bridget Archer
Tasmanian MP Bridget Archer announced she would not be supporting the unamended bill prior to the debate in parliament.
"How did we get back to a place where people who hold such privilege in this house can ignore the harm we might place on children by telling them they are other and less than equal in this country?" she asked in parliament.
"I can't wrap my head around this and I fear that it may risk lives."
She said she couldn't support the bill in its current form and she wasn't sure if there was any way to "bridge the divide".
This is the second time Ms Archer has crossed the floor and defied her government, after voting in favour of a federal anti-corruption body in November 2021.
Fiona Martin
Sydney Liberal MP Fiona Martin said her work as a psychologist allowed her to see first-hand accounts of children who were experiencing discrimination and suicidal thoughts.
"I was proud to affirm no one should be discriminated against for faith, sexuality or gender identity," she wrote on Twitter.
"The consequences of discrimination are real, no young person should face that because of who they are."
Katie Allen
Liberal member for Higgins Katie Allen. Source: AAP
She said her support for the bill was "conditional" on the removal of section 38(3) of the Sex Discrimination Act.
"Children don't choose their sexuality and they shouldn't be prejudiced in a school," she said on the Project last week.
When asked if she would cross the floor, she said: "let's just say I really hope it doesn't come to that".
Dave Sharma
Sydney Liberal moderate Dave Sharma expressed his concerns on protections for statements of religious belief and cited an aborted attempt by Brisbane's Citipointe Christian College to enforce a gender and sexuality contract.
"We should not be making young people's lives harder by allowing them to be discriminated against or vilified on account of attributes over which they have no choice," he told parliament on Tuesday.
With AAP.
