Gay teachers often struggle to “teach and model” the faith and values upheld by religious schools and are probably better off working for institutions that accept their world view, Australia’s peak Christian schools body argues.

Christian Schools Australia has written to Education Minister Sue Ellery and Attorney-General John Quigley seeking details about any potential changes to exemptions for religious schools, which are allowed under existing laws to discriminate against teachers and students on the basis of sexuality.

The State Government recently sought legal advice on whether WA’s Equal Opportunity Act should be amended to address discrimination against the LGBTI community after last week’s same-sex marriage Yes vote.

Arguing the religious protections should be retained, CSA executive officer Mark Spencer said faith-based schools provided a “holistic” education and were upfront about their values.

Camera Icon Craig Campbell was removed from his position with a baptist school over his same-sex relationship. Credit: 7 News

Mr Spencer acknowledged it was a difficult issue but said teachers in same-sex relationships were inevitably going to find the faith position of some religious schools challenging.

He hoped there would be wide public consultation before the Government considered any changes.

“There are no winners when we have to separate from a staff member in these situations,” Mr Spencer said.

“It’s not something we want to do — it’s something we just need to do to be able to provide the sort of education we want to provide.”

“Kids are great at picking up hypocrisy. They’ll know if a teacher is saying one thing and not living up to what they’re saying, and we want to avoid that kind of incongruity.”

Debate about religious schools’ right to discriminate was renewed this week after a well-respected gay relief teacher was removed from the roster at South Coast Baptist College in Waikiki upon revealing that he was in a same-sex relationship.

Gay rights advocates have been pushing for the “anti-gay loophole” in the Act to be closed, arguing that it is out of step with laws in other States and is being used to target LGBTI people.

Attorney-General John Quigley said legal advice had been sought and Cabinet would consider the matters “in due course”.