A parliamentary hearing into a contentious religious discrimination bill has been suspended following a clash between two senators.
Liberal committee chairwoman Senator Sarah Henderson shut down the inquiry after Labor’s Deb O'Neill refused to back down from a line of questioning.
Senaor O’Neill was quizzing religious groups over an apparent deal to protect gay kids in schools.
“Somebody is not telling the truth,” she declared before Senator Henderson cut her off.
“I was waiting for you to jump in there and prevent me from getting an answer.”
Following a short suspension, the Australian Christian Lobby was asked if the Morrison government had made it aware of a deal struck by moderate Liberals to protect gay students from discrimination in religious schools.
“I have not been advised by the Prime Minister's Office or by the Attorney-General’s office as to the status of any such deal,” Dan Flynn said.
“What I do know is that in search for the same answer that I have written to the Attorney-General and asked for clarification referring to the reports and if there was any such deal.
“I have written to the Attorney-General, as far as I know, I have not had a reply to that letter.”
Earlier, Mr Flynn confirmed if the deal were to go ahead, the ACL would withdraw its support for the legislation.
In a meeting with Christian lobby group FamilyVoice in Dxjmtzywecember, Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said reforms to protect gay students could face a year-long wait.
“I really wanted to make that distinction clear: this is a bill to protect against religious discrimination,” the Attorney-General said at the time.
The legislation was a key election promises from Scott Morrison prior to the 2019 election.
