Liberal holdouts unswayed by changes to religious discrimination bill as Labor unlikely to oppose

Labor and the Coalition are on Friday poised to deliver joint reports calling for the bill to be considered for passage through parliament.

Stakeholders tracking two inquiries, expect Labor to express concerns about the contentious statements of belief clause and exemptions allowing religious institutions to discriminate on the grounds of religion, but to ultimately not oppose the bill.

But the government is yet to gain the support of three of its backbenchers, Liberal moderates who are still holding out despite a deal to protect LGBT students.

Although the in-principle support for the bill does not commit Labor to vote for it, it has caused consternation among some LGBT activists who wanted the opposition to take a harder line, including to require the amendments to protect LGBT students be tabled first.

On Thursday Scott Morrison announced the government would introduce an amendment that would prevent students being expelled from school for their sexuality or gender, to be included in the religious discrimination package.

Zimmerman, who has previously called for discrimination against LGBT teachers to also be banned, confirmed he has reserved his position, at least until he sees the committee inquiry reports.

The government has listed the religious discrimination bills on the Senate program for Wednesday, suggesting they could try to pass them in the lower house on Tuesday, but Labor is increasingly confident that with the Coalition split on its own side the bills may not be forced to a vote.

Labor caucus resolved in November that it would reserve its final position until after the inquiries were completed.