The NSW Greens have called for a bill of rights to prevent private schools from discriminating against gay students.
Attorney-General John Hatzistergos backs a NSW law that allows private schools to expel gay students simply for being gay, Fairfax newspapers reported on Saturday.
The 30-year-old law exempts private schools from any obligation to enrol or deal fairly with students who are homosexual.
A spokesman for Mr Hatzistergos reportedly described the laws as necessary to "maintain a sometimes delicate balance between protecting individuals from unlawful discrimination while allowing people to practise their own beliefs."
Greens MP David Shoebridge said there was no place in the 21st century for any school expelling young students because of their sexuality.
"It is remarkable that the Labor attorney-general will stand up to defend the right of a private school to sack a teacher for becoming a single mother, but stays silent when young people are being actively discriminated against for being honest and open about their sexual identity," Mr Shoebridge said in a statement on Saturday.
"NSW deserves more from its leaders than silence and fear in the face of the well-connected and well-resourced religious lobby.
"It is the job of governments to protect the vulnerable not bow to the powerful."
The Greens support adopting a NSW comprehensive bill of rights to protect people from this discrimination, he said.
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