But with a state election looming in November, Fairfax Media asked the Andrews government, the Opposition and the Greens what plans they had to remove discrimination in schools at a state level. Regardless of federal negotiations, Victoria has its own Equal Opportunity Act that currently allows religious bodies to discriminate in certain cirumstances. On Saturday, Attorney-General Christian Porter urged state and territory governments to make sure their laws are updated to comply with the federal government's newly announced push to abolish exemptions permitting religious schools to expel students on the basis of their sexuality. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Attorney-General Christian Porter. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "It is, of course, a matter for individual states and territories as to how they respond to the Ruddock review, when released, and act to ensure that their laws reflect ... the Morrison government's position," Mr Porter told Fairfax Media.

Victorian Liberals’ equality spokesman David Davis said LGBTI students should not be treated unfairly on the basis of their sexuality or identification and signalled that if elected in November the Coalition would change the law. "That includes a preparedness by the Coalition to legislate to provide clarity and to ensure that no gay student is excluded or expelled because of their sexuality," Mr Davis said. Loading The Andrews government did not say whether it would seek to wind back laws that currently allow schools to expel LGBTI students. However, it has commited to reintroducing laws that would weaken the ability of faith-based groups to discriminate by introducing an "inherent requirement test" if re-elected on November 24. The inherent requirement test was scrapped by the Coalition in 2011.

Groups would still be able to discriminate against prospective employees, but only in limited circumstances in which they can prove religious beliefs are an inherent requirement of a job. For example, a gay person wanting to be a school gardener would be better protected by the proposed legislation, but a lesbian wanting to teach religious studies at a Christian school might not. "The Andrews Government's amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act were defeated in Parliament by the Liberals," said a government spokeswoman. Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. Credit:Joe Armao "If elected we will reintroduce these amendments to ensure LGBTI Victorians can be free from discrimination whilst still protecting religious freedom." Meanwhile, Greens MP Sam Hibbins confirmed his party would seek to reintroduce a bill that Labor and the Coalition joined forces to defeat two years ago, which would have revoked the right of religious schools to target students for being gay.

"With leaders of the three major parties now committing to change federal law to prohibit discrimination of students, Dan Andrews and Matthew Guy have no excuse not to reverse their opposition to changing the law in Victoria," he said. Anna Brown wants Victoria to 'remove out-dated laws'. Credit:Justin McManus Equality Campaign co-chair Anna Brown said regardless of how Canberra voted to amend the Sex Discrimination Act, "it’s 2018 and time for Victoria to also remove out-dated laws that give religious institutions licence to discriminate against students, teachers and even people accessing family violence and disability services". Loading Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the existing federal laws were introduced under Labor but asserted that religious schools did not appear to be expelling LGBTI students even though they were technically permitted to.