The Government, Liberals and Nationals joined together to vote down Greens amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act that would have protected workers from being discriminated against if they express dissatisfaction about their working conditions or express a need to improve them. Also, in an historic move, the Greens moved to broaden the scope of the Equal Opportunity Amendment Bill 2007 to remove exemptions in the Equal Opportunity Act that allow discrimination in small businesses and religious schools, on grounds of age, race, gender, religious belief, impairment, marital status, breastfeeding, physical features, industrial activity, marital status, sexual orientation, parental status or status as a carer. This was blocked by all other members of the Legislative Council.

"Under WorkChoices, the removal of unfair dismissal laws has created a worsening climate of uncertainty and insecurity, so that people are afraid to speak up at work", said Ms Pennicuik, Greens Employment spokesperson.

"This situation is totally unacceptable in Australia and is an insult to those who fought long and hard for industrial democracy and fair treatment at work."

Ms Pennicuik said that the existing legislation "essentially means that employees in small businesses and religious schools have less rights than people in the rest of the community and can be discriminated against, including for raising matters about their employment entitlements".

"What possible reason or justification can there be for that type of arbitrary discrimination?", said Ms Pennicuik. "There are people working who are afraid to reveal their sexuality, and if they do, they can be discriminated against."

"The Greens believe discrimination is not a relative concept. Discrimination is either right or wrong in principle, and it is wrong to allow discrimination if there less than five employees in a workplace or if a person happens to work in a religious school", said Ms Pennicuik.

Greens GLBTI policy s.3.1.3: "Amending the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 to remove exemptions for religious organisations to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity"

Greens Education policy s.3.3.11: "Ensuring all schools that receive public funding are subject to the same level of accountability, transparency and non-discriminatory staff recruitment and student enrolment policies."