1,000 signatures reached
To: Lia Finocchiaro
Stop amendments to the Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Act
We implore the Finocchiaro government to abandon their imminent plan to amend the Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Act. The CLP’s plan will allow for increased hate speech and religious discrimination in our communities. This targets First Nations people, women, people of colour, Sistergirl, Brotherboy, LGBTIQAP+ people, all marginalised people, our education system and all people living in the NT.
No community consent has been provided for this to occur, and we reject the government’s intentions in the strongest possible terms.
No community consent has been provided for this to occur, and we reject the government’s intentions in the strongest possible terms.
Why is this important?
On Thursday 16th October 2025 the Northern Territory Goverment under Lia Finnocchiaro is planning to change the Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Act, rolling back recently won protections for vulnerable community members.
The vilification provision in the current NT Anti-Discrimination Act has been called “one of the strongest pieces of vilification law that is currently in place” and “highly visionary” by the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner.
The Finnocchiaro government intends to:
Amend Section 20A of the Act to provide a “higher threshold” for what is considered vilification, allowing for increased levels of hate speech against marginalised communities in the Northern Territory. This is occurring in a political climate where racist rhetoric and anti - Sistergirl Brotherboy LGBTQIA sentiment are high.
Add Section 35B, allowing religious organisations to discriminate against employees “on the ground of religious belief” or “to avoid offending religious sensibilities”. This has grave implications for Sistergirl Brotherboy LGBTQIA+ teachers working in religious schools, and creates unsafe school environments for Sistergirl Brotherboy LGBTQIA+ students and families. Students and teachers deserve a safe environment in which to thrive and learn free from discrimination.
This is one amongst many sustained attacks on community safety by the CLP government. We cannot allow this erosion of our hard-won protections.