The Tasmanian Government has moved to give religious schools the right to reject students whose families do not share their faith.

An amendment to the Anti-Discrimination Act tabled in Parliament would exempt faith-based schools from certain provisions of the law.

Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin said the amendment would bring Tasmanian schools into line with other states.

"The Anti-Discrimination Amendment Bill will allow faith-based schools to give preference in their admissions to students who have religious beliefs, affiliations or activities consistent with those of the school," Dr Goodwin said.

Independent Schools Tasmania had been pushing for the exemption.

Its chief executive, Tony Crehan, said under the current arrangements principals could only turn away students on the basis of faith if the class was full.

"The schools were founded and built at the cost of school communities and very often that was a church-based community," he said.

"Having been built for that purpose, that's the reason why they should be allowed to have this exemption to the anti-discrimination rules."

Changes described as 'bigot's charter'

But the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group labelled the proposed change a "bigot's charter" that would give religious schools special rights.

Rodney Croome has slammed the proposed changes to the Act. ( ABC News: Sam Ikin )

Spokesman Rodney Croome said the proposal would foster discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students and children of same-sex couples.

"This is a bigot's charter because it will give religious school principals free rein to discriminate against gay and transgender students and the children of same-sex couples under the guise of their school's religious beliefs," Mr Croome said.

Mr Crehan rejected the suggestion that the exemption would be used to exclude children based on sexuality.

"I don't think there's going to be massive turning away of students, it's certainly not led by bigotry," Mr Crehan said.

"It's on the basis of religion, not sex or sexual preference."