LGBT+ students and their supporters are urging parliament not to forget about them and protecting their rights to stay in the school they want to attend.
A group of young people delivered a petition to federal parliament on Wednesday with more than 55,000 signatures calling for all students and teachers to be protected from discrimination.
The issue flared in late 2018 after a leaked religious freedom review report raised fears about potential discrimination.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the time stressed that religious schools had not excluded LGBT students despite powers to do so being passed by the Labor government in 2013, yet he vowed to have the issue resolved by the end of 2018.
However, a stalemate in parliament meant the changes stalled.
Oscar Kaspi-Crutchett, who was among those delivering the petition, said he couldn't help wonder what his schooling would have been like if such anti-discrimination laws had been in place when he was younger.
"The legislation that emerges from the building around me has the power to shape the tone of society and, when you're young and LGBT+, that tone isn't always friendly," the 18-year-old told reporters at Parliament House.
"Legislation like this isn't just about closing a loophole, it's taking the next logical step to correct the ongoing wrongs facing LGBT+ students like myself."
Twelve-year-old Tiarna, who wore her Catholic school uniform, said lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender kids like her had the right to go to school and learn just like anyone else.
"No one should discriminate against who they are. It's who they are and who they want to be," she said.
Catholic Archbishop Mark Coleridge last year said the church had not sought to discriminate against students or staff based on their sexuality.
A report on Labor legislation to remove the right of schools to sack, expel or otherwise discriminate against gay teachers and students is expected to be tabled in the Senate later on Wednesday.
