November 2017

Then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull commissions a review of religious protections by former Liberal minister Philip Ruddock to appease conservative disquiet over same-sex marriage legislation.

October 2018

Leaked review recommendations call for a Religious Discrimination Act, and strengthening the rights of schools to reject same-sex attracted staff and students.

December 2018

The Morrison government pledges a stand-alone law to outlaw religious discrimination.

April 2019

The Australian Law Reform Commission is tasked with reviewing the Sex Discrimination Act, particularly section 38. This lets religious schools discriminate against students and staff on grounds of sexuality or gender identity "to avoid injury to the religious susceptibilities of adherents of that religion or creed".

August 2019

The government releases details of draft laws to protect religious people from discrimination. Protections extend from education to employment and the provision of federal government services. They are similar to other anti-discrimination laws covering age, race and disability. The bill protects religious people making statements about their beliefs, such as a "biblical" view of marriage.

Businesses with revenues of at least $50 million must prove any conditions imposed on employees restricting their religious expression are necessary to avoid "unjustifiable financial hardship to the business". This becomes known as the "Folau clause", stemming from Rugby Australia's termination of Israel Folau's contract following his comments gay people would go to hell.

December 2019

A redrafted bill is released giving charities, religious hospitals and nursing homes the same discretion as schools and other faith-based organisations to hire based on belief. The legislation also lets health practitioners object to procedures, and pharmacists to avoid dispensing contraception, on religious grounds.

November 2021

The government agrees to drop the "Folau clause" and exemptions allowing medical professionals to refuse certain procedures on religious grounds. Parts of the law letting religious schools preference hiring staff of the same faith are touted as necessary to override a bill in train in Victoria. Prime Minister Scott Morrison personally introduces the legislation into parliament.

December 2021

Mr Morrison agrees to act on long-mooted changes to the Sex Discrimination Act and ban the expulsion of students on grounds of sexuality or gender identity. This is promised to secure moderate Liberals' support for the religious discrimination bill. Two parliamentary committees, one looking at legislation and another human rights, are tasked with reviewing the bill.

Attorney-General Michaelia Cash then assures a Christian lobby group the government supports religious schools and organisations maintaining exemptions under the Sex Discrimination Act, saying: "There has always been an understanding across politics that the ability of educational institutions established for religious purposes to actually operate in accordance with those purposes is just a fundamental part of being what they are."

February 2022

Mr Morrison says the bill will be amended to prevent the expulsion of gay school students, following furore over an aborted attempt by Brisbane's Citipointe Christian College to enforce a gender and sexuality contract. The next day, the attorney-general's assistant minister, Amanda Stoker, stresses changes to protect gay students remain separate to the religious discrimination bill. She says the government wants to get the latter locked in before committing to Sex Discrimination Act changes.

Two cross-party parliamentary committees - one looking at human rights, and another scrutinising legal and constitutional affairs - back the religious discrimination bill, but with caveats and changes. The bills are listed for debate in the House of Representatives on February 8.

Australian Associated Press