Blanket exemptions from Labor's sex discrimination laws will leave many vulnerable, says Australian spokesperson on Legal Affairs Senator Penny Wright.

Senators from Labor and Liberal parties today refused sign on Senator Wright's recommended changes to the laws, which retain exemptions for religious organisation.

"These exemptions mean a health or homelessness service could refuse to help a transgender person, while a religious school could turn away children because their parents are gay.

Legislating protections for LGBTI Australians against discrimination is an important step but remaining exceptions for religious organisations are a disappointing failing of the Labor Party, the Australian Greens said.

“Gay and lesbian Australians deserve to be protected from discrimination across the board but today the Labor have shown they don’t have the conviction to deliver that,” the Greens’ LGBTI spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

Allegations of excessive use of force by police officers at this year’s Mardi Gras celebrations are deeply concerning, the Australian Greens say.

“What a shame that such a successful event, which applauds tolerance in the Australian community, now has a cloud cast over it by multiple allegations of police brutality,” the Greens’ LGBTI spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Greens have welcomed the Attorney General's decision to remove the prohibition on causing offence in the draft anti-discrimination bill.

Greens spokesperson on legal affairs Senator Penny Wright said the move would allow public scrutiny to turn to other areas of improvement needed in the legislation.

"Attorney General Nicola Roxon has made the right decision to remove this clause, which was, I believe, an unintentional overreach and drafting error," Senator Wright said.

In this day and age, we rightly say it is unacceptable to discriminate against people because they are male or female. Over decades, politicians around the country have designed laws to prevent discrimination and give people an avenue of appeal against unfair treatment.

Under proposed new laws, it will be illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of their sex or gender identity in all areas of public life. This is a welcome step.

However, there is still no legal protection from discrimination for those who are neither male nor female. 

The Australian Parliament has voted this afternoon to support a Greens’ motion condemning the Ugandan and Nigerian Anti-Gay Bills.

 “It is genuinely horrifying that there are Governments in this world that want to punish and imprison people simply for being who they are,” the Greens’ human rights and LGBTI spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Greens are urging Police Commissioner Gary Burns to allow South Australian police to wear their uniforms while marching in the Adelaide Pride Parade this Saturday.

 “South Australian police shouldn’t be forced to keep their uniforms in the closet at this year’s Adelaide Pride Parade,” Greens spokesperson for Human Rights, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

 “I will be writing to South Australia’s Police Commissioner, Gary Burns, urging him to reverse his decision.

The Australian Greens support the ‘Proud Schools’ program in NSW, which is designed to build a culture of understanding and acceptance for gay and lesbian students.

 “We know that LGBTI teens are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their classmates and I am pleased to see programs like Proud Schools supporting gay and lesbian teens,” Greens LGBTI spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.