NOTE: This campaign is open to WA residents only 

Faith-based education and churches in WA are under massive threat.

The Cook Labor Government has tabled began debate on the dangerous Equal Opportunity Bill 2026.

This entirely new framework for Equal Opportunity Act WA which would undermine Christian education and the rights of Christian churches across WA.

If passed, it would remove the valued state protections that
1) enable all Christian educational institutions across WA to manage staff and student behaviour in line with their sincerely held religious beliefs;

2) ensure staff provide holistic religious care and protection of over 60,000 faith-based students, and thousands more in Bible-based and religious colleges and universities. 

3) enable churches to hire staff of their values, even when engaging in a so-called ‘commercial’ or government-funded activities

Public schooling has fallen for six straight years in WA since 2020, as threat-based lockdowns in those schools (due to student actions) doubled from 578 in 2017 to 1327 in 2025. Over 1,100 in 2025 were due to ‘threat to violence’.

This fracturing in public student behaviour occurred even as private schools are gaining the majority of new enrolments, with 4000 extra students since first semester 2025, compared with 214 additional pupils in public schools (The West Australian, 17/5/26). 

Around a third of all students in Western Australia are enrolled in independent and religious schools.

Please take action today. Email your WA MP and ask them to oppose the attacks on religious educational institutions.

The Bill would:

Prevent Christian schools from enforcing behavioural expectations for students based on their faith (section 27);

• Create an alarming vilification civil penalty scheme, where the Equal Opportunity Commission will assist staff or parents to uncapped compensation from a faith-based church, school, or higher education college (section 87);
• Remove protections that allow churches to ensure all staff in all operations, regardless of their funding or commercial basis, uphold and teach the religious ethos of the church community (section 51); 
• Restrict the ability of schools to consider faith and lifestyle commitments when managing, promoting or releasing staff (section 52); and
• Remove the ability of sport groups and schools to have separate male and female competitions for any child 11 and under (section 57). 

Christian schools and higher educational institutions, along with church-funded charitable and commercial outreach projects, are not simply businesses teaching facts or servicing students or clients. 

They are holistic religious communities built on a partnership between parents, staff and churches, formed to educate children, young adults and families within a clear Biblical worldview. 

Families and young people choose this Christian education because they want their children and young adults taught and cared for in an environment that reflects their faith.

This Bill would undermine that partnership and leave Christian schools vulnerable to complaints, legal action and pressure to abandon their beliefs.

Please take action today. Email your MP and MLCs and ask them to vote against this Bill.

Your message can urge them to protect the right of faith-based institutions to:

• Uphold their religious beliefs and ethos;
• Set behavioural expectations for students;
• Employ and retain staff who support the school’s or church’s faith commitments;
• Respect the choices of parents who want a Christian or religious education and holistic teaching for their children and their families.

Parliament needs to hear from parents, teachers, educators, pastors and supporters of religious freedom. A short, respectful email from you can make a real difference.

Thank you for standing with Christian educational institutions, parents and families.