The Victorian State Government has passed its Equal Opportunity Amendment Bill which will allow faith-based institutions, such as schools and churches, to discriminate based on faith, marital status and sexual orientation.

 

The bill gained state-wide attention after Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge failed to attend the first vote, causing a defeat in the lower house.

 

The Equal Opportunity Amendment Bill passed the upper house shortly after 3am (AEST) on Wednesday after more than five hours of debate.

 

The previous Labor Government, which was defeated at the polls in November last year, had introduced laws that would have restricted faith-based institutions to discriminate based on certain criteria. The law was to be passed in August.