A contentious bill to protect Australians from religious discrimination has passed the lower house of federal parliament after five Liberal MPs crossed the floor to support sticking-point amendments during a marathon overnight session which concluded just before 5 a.m. on Feb. 10.
Liberal MPs Bridget Archer, Trent Zimmerman, Fiona Martin, Dave Sharma, and Katie Allen crossed the floor to vote with Labor and the crossbench on amendments to the bill which they feared would permit discrimination against gay and transgender students by religious schools if not changed.
