The Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 makes conversion practices, which can include ‘conversion therapy’ and suppression practices, a crime punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment. 

It also creates a scheme allowing civil complaints about conversion practices to be made to Anti-Discrimination NSW. 

Conversion practices are based on the false ideology that LGBTQ+ people have a ‘disorder’ or require treatment.  

This can include psychological or medical interventions, counselling, or subtle and repeated messages that LGBTQ+ people can change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity with faith or effort. 

Anti-Discrimination NSW will now be able to investigate complaints about conversion practices occurring from 4 April 2025, and, if appropriate, try to resolve the matter through conciliation. It can also refer matters to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal in certain circumstances. 

It will also deliver information sessions and resources about the new law including free online videos and tools and referrals to support services.  

The state’s Attorney-General Michael Daley said conversion practices inflict significant harm on members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

“So-called ‘conversion therapy’ inflicts real and significant harm on members of the LGBTQ+ community.  

“Everyone deserves to be respected for who they are. There is nothing ‘wrong’ with LGBTQ+ people. They do not need ‘fixing’ or to be ‘saved’. 

“We are indebted to the survivors of this insidious practice who shared their experiences and advocated for this important reform.” the Attorney-General said.   

People who deliver or preform conversion practices that cause substantial mental or physical harm face up to five years’ jail.  

Taking someone out of NSW to deliver ‘conversion therapy’ carries a maximum three-year jail sentence.  

The ban does not prevent general religious teaching or expressions of religious principles, or parental discussions with their children related to sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual activity or religion.  

It is targeted at a practice, treatment or sustained effort directed at someone to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Minister for Health Ryan Park said it was clear that the practices were dangerous.

“These sorts of practices are incredibly harmful and dangerous, and they have severe and lasting health impacts. 

“Today, we’re bringing an end to them. 

“I want to thank the many individuals and groups who engaged with the Government on this legislation, to make this ban a reality.” 

Founder and CEO of Ambassadors and Bridge Builders International (ABBI) Anthony Venn-Brown OAM also welcomed the introduction of the new laws.

“The ban on dangerous and discredited LGBTQA conversion practices is a welcome move.  

“I grew up when being gay was a criminal offence and mental health professionals believed they could cure people of homosexuality.  

“It caused me great stress and anxiety. I did everything to change it, including conversion ‘therapy’.  

“I often thought of suicide. 

“After coming out, I’ve spent decades supporting people who were told they were broken and needed ‘fixing’. Today, people are still taking their lives – or contemplating it – over this issue.  

“LGBTQA people should be celebrated, accepted and affirmed. This law will protect vulnerable people from harm, save lives and make NSW a safer place for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.” Venn-Brown said.

Read Anthony Venn-Brown’s full speech from earlier this week.

CEO of Equality Australia Anna Brown said the new laws would save people from lifetimes of pain.

“We stand with victim survivors in welcoming this law which prohibits these archaic and harmful practices, which have already caused untold harm to LGBTQA people. 

“Abuse dressed up as pastoral care or guidance is a breach of trust and power. Telling someone they are broken or sick because of who they are is profoundly psychologically damaging. 

“Not only will this law save countless people from a lifetime of pain – and in some cases save lives – it also sends a powerful message that LGBTQA people are whole and valid, just as we are.” Brown said.  

NSW joins Victoria, ACT, Queensland and South Australia in making conversion practices illegal. The Western Australian government has pledged to bring in similar legislation with Premier Roger Cook promising it will be a priority during the government’s third term.

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Brought forward by Australia, Chile, South Africa and Finland, the resolution was adopted with 24 nations in favour, 23 abstaining and none opposed.

Intersex people have innate variations of sex characteristics that are more diverse than stereotypical definitions of male or female bodies. Up to 1.7% of the global population is born with these traits, and the fact that someone is intersex can become apparent at different stages of life.

Dr Morgan Carpenter, Executive Director of Intersex Human Rights Australia, says this is a great moment for the intersex community, “but we still have a long way to go.”

“Because of the way our bodies are perceived as different, we can experience stigmatisation, discrimination and harmful practices, including medical interventions to make our bodies appear or function in ways that are more typically female or male,” Dr Carpenter said.

“We are calling for the same rights as everybody else. It’s about the universality of human rights, including the rights to bodily integrity and bodily autonomy, and freedom from harmful practices.”

ACT stands alone on intersex protections

In June 2023, the ACT became the first jurisdiction in Australia to protect people with variations in sex characteristics from harmful and unnecessary medical interventions as children by placing restrictions on altering sex characteristics without personal consent.

Ghassan Kassisieh, Legal Director of national advocacy group Equality Australia, says the resolution sends a clear message to other governments across Australia.

“Unnecessary medical procedures continue to be performed on infants and children born with intersex variations in Australia, leaving them with the physical and psychological scars of medical decisions they had no say in,” Kassisieh said. 

“This resolution shows there is growing global consensus on intersex rights, and with Australia showing leadership on the international stage at the UN, now is the time for all our state and territories to follow suit and put an end to unnecessary medical procedures on intersex people without their consent.”  

“We call on all states and territories to pass laws protecting intersex people from unnecessary medical procedures so they can decide for themselves what surgeries they want when they are old enough.”

Intersex advocate and spokesperson for support service A Gender Agenda, Mimi Hall, says the UN resolution is “profoundly impactful.”

“Human rights abuses experienced by people with intersex variations have long been hidden or misunderstood,” she said. 

“Despite a number of calls for action by the UN for states to increase the protection of intersex rights, there has been little advancement toward legal safeguards in Australia. 

“This was until last year, when the ACT passed a ground-breaking bill prohibiting unnecessary and deferrable medical interventions on intersex children. It’s now crucial for other Australian states and territories to recognise the UN’s persistent calls to action and implement protective laws similar to the ACT’s.

“This UN Resolution makes it very hard for them to continue to ignore this issue.” 

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The legislation will protect people with variations in sex characteristics from harmful and unnecessary medical interventions as children by placing restrictions on treatment to alter sex characteristics without personal consent.

These restrictions will exclude emergencies or authorisation by an independent assessment board. The board will be created with committed comprised of intersex people with lived experience alongside medical, ethical and psychosocial experts. The laws will also introduce offences and other regulatory provisions to enforce these changes.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr fought back tears when speaking on the legislation in parliament to commend the bill.

“It’s incumbent [on] all members in this parliament, who care about the autonomy, consent and safety of people with variations in sex characteristics and I thank them for their support of this bill today,” Chief Minister Barr said of the bill he himself introduced.

“We look forward to the detailed debate, where I will hold it together better than I have just done.”

The action follows long-term advocacy from intersex individuals and groups, as well as broader LGBTIQA+ advocacy groups, who have all welcomed today’s action.

Long-time advocate and Executive Director of Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA) called this a “wonderful and transformative moment.”

“This legislation promises to ensure this, implementing effective oversight and appropriate penalties. And it is accompanied by much needed investment in psychosocial support,” Carpenter said.

“Thank you so much for the leadership of the ACT Government and their engagement with all stakeholders. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with government and community organisations to ensure its success.

“This is a model for other jurisdictions, and we call on other states and territories to adopt similar reforms.”

Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown adds that it is time for other states and territories to follow the ACT’s lead.

“Every intersex person in Australia should be able to grow up to live a full and dignified life in which they decide what happens to their own bodies,” Brown said.

“It’s now time for the rest of the country to commit to protecting future generations of intersex Australians from medical procedures that can be deferred until they are old enough to decide for themselves.

“The fact not a single MP from any party in the ACT voted against this bill shows how important these protections are and that the time is right for reform in all other states and territories.”

One of the most high-profile intersex Australians, the world’s first openly intersex mayor Tony Briffa, has also commented the ACT Government.

“Infants and children born with intersex variations in Australia continue to have unnecessary, irreversible hormonal and surgical interventions performed them, like surgeries to reduce the size of a baby girl’s clitoris or to remove healthy gonads.

“I call on all other states and territories to follow the ACT’s lead and protect the rights of all intersex people in medical settings.”

Currently, Victoria is the only state or territory besides the ACT who have made commitments in this space. In October 2021, the Australian Human Rights Commission urged all Australian governments to implement measures that prevent harmful medical interventions on intersex people without personal consent.

OIP Staff

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National and Western Australian LGBTIQA+ groups have welcomed the announcement by Western Australian Attorney General, John Quigley, that the government will amend the state’s Equal Opportunity Act, including to better protect LGBTIQA+ students and staff in religious schools.

The commitment follows the tabling of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia’s final report into the state’s anti-discrimination laws, commissioned in 2019.

Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia, said the proposed reforms would allow Western Australians to enjoy “gold-standard” anti-discrimination laws.

“Regardless of where they live in Australia, every person deserves to live with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, whom they love or the sex characteristics they were born with”, Brown said in a statement to the media.

“Today the Law Reform Commission has delivered the Parliament of Western Australia a roadmap to ensure LGBTIQA+ West Australians are protected equally, by gold-standard anti-discrimination laws.

“We welcome the government’s statement that they accept the recommendations, and their commitment to implementing several of the recommendations, including acting to protect LGBTIQA+ students and staff from discrimination in religious schools and ensuring protections are extended to all trans and gender diverse people, as well as people born with variations of sex characteristics.”

The Law Reform Commission’s report adopts key recommendations from Equality Australia’s submission, endorsed by 14 WA-based and national LGBTIQA+ groups.

Misty Farquhar, Convener of Rainbow Futures WA, welcomed the announcement, saying it was encouraging to see the government taking action.

“It is encouraging to see the McGowan government committing to plug the many gaps in protection for LGBTIQA+ people in Western Australia.

“Hopefully this will be the beginning of government action to address the unfinished business of ensuring equality for our communities.

“The government must now seize this opportunity to put WA back on the map as a state that respects the dignity and equality of all.

“We thank the Attorney General for his leadership and look forward to working with his office to ensure that the legislation responds to the needs of WA’s diverse LGBTIQA+ community and other groups impacted by discrimination and vilification.” Farquhar said.

The Attorney General has also committed to amend the Equal Opportunity Act to provide antidiscrimination protections for all trans, gender-diverse or non-binary people, regardless of whether they have updated their gender markers on official documentation.

Hunter Gurevich, Chair of TransFolk of WA, welcomed the commitment, calling on the government to act separately to make it easier for trans and gender diverse Western Australians to access ID documents that reflect their gender.

“The trans and gender diverse community of Western Australia has waited over four years for our government to amend gender recognition laws, so that we can be recognised as who we are in a similar way to trans folk in almost every other state and territory.

“We are delighted with these commitments, and urge the government to immediately remove the cruel and unnecessary barriers that trans and gender diverse people in West Australian face in updating our birth certificates to reflect who we are”

Michelle McGrath, Western Australian intersex advocate welcomed the new discrimination protections for intersex people1 proposed by the WA Law Reform Commission.

“With the ACT and Victoria now committed to reforms protecting intersex people from harmful practices, I hope the WA Government will go further and ensure intersex people are also protected from unnecessary surgical and hormonal medical interventions that modify sex characteristics without their personal informed consent, unless necessary to avoid serious, urgent and irreparable harm to the concern person.

“It is disappointing and concerning that the Law Reform Commission proposes recommendations that discriminate in sport against intersex people aged over 12 years based on their sex characteristics. Several other states and territories do not allow discrimination against intersex people in sport, and WA should follow the same path.”

Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown added that the government must ensure all vulnerable groups are protected in the final legislation.

“We look forward to working with the McGowan government on the detail of the reform to ensure that the recommendations are implemented and more recent developments in other states and territories to protect other vulnerable groups are reflected in the final legislation.”

OIP Staff

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Human rights advocates have warned International Rugby League and other sport governing bodies considering blanket bans on trans women following recent changes from swimming’s peak body FINA.

The warning comes as the International Rugby League have shown signs of following FINA’s lead, enforcing a temporary ban on trans women as they review their inclusion policy.

“In reaching this position, the IRL, which last reviewed transgender participation in international rugby league in January-February 2021, considered several relevant developments in world sport,” the IRL said in a statement this week.

“Not the least of these was the IOC’s publication of its November 2021 Framework on Fairness, Non-Discrimination and Inclusion on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations.”

“The IOC concluded that it is the remit of each sport and its governing body to determine how an athlete may be at a disproportionate advantage compared with their peers – taking into consideration the differing nature of each sport.”

“In the interests of avoiding unnecessary welfare, legal and reputational risk to International Rugby League competitions, and those competing therein, the IRL believes there is a requirement and responsibility to further consult and complete additional research before finalising its policy.”

In the statement, the IRL also say the code “reaffirms its belief that rugby league is a game for all and that anyone and everyone can play our sport.”

Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia says sweeping bans on trans folks do not meet international human rights standards.

“Blanket bans on women who are trans playing against other women risk violating international human rights principles of non-discrimination, which require such policies to start from a place of inclusion unless an exclusion can be justified as proportionate to any risks identified,” Brown said.

“FINA failed to meet that standard, and the Rugby League’s ban also fails to do so, despite it being temporary.”

Equality Australia characterised the ban as pre-emptive and urged the International Rugby League to ensure transparency of evidence and to prioritise consultation in the development of its policy.

“International Rugby League and other sporting bodies must consult with affected people and provide a detailed explanation of the evidence they are relying upon before they exclude players from the sports they love,” Brown continues.

“Given the small number of trans athletes, the international principle of proportionately justifies taking a case-by-case approach – rather than imposing a blunt and harmful ban on everyone, no matter their differences.”

“As sporting bodies consider their positions, they must put the human rights of all athletes front and centre, paying special consideration to the rights of trans people to be able to compete fairly at an elite level with others of their gender to the maximum extent possible.”

“The fact is that women’s bodies – like all human bodies – are diverse. For powerful international sporting bodies such as FINA or International Rugby League to determine that only a particular type of woman can compete against other women sets a dangerous precedent, increasing discrimination against trans women.”

The organisation this week issued a joint statement with LGBTIQ+ sporting inclusion group Pride in Sport, calling on FINA to place its policy under immediate review, raising concerns it will increase discrimination against trans and intersex people and potentially expose intersex children to the further risk of so-called ‘sex normalisation’ procedures without their consent.

FINA’s policy forces all elite athletes to undergo a compulsory assessment to determine their chromosomal sex as a precondition for their participation in elite swimming, further potentially breaching human rights to privacy and prohibitions on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

“All women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, whether they’re trans or not, and regardless of their innate sex characteristics,” Brown added.

“FINA’s ban will have impacts on the human rights of all athletes, but it will pose specific and serious risks of harm to intersex women and effectively exclude most trans women from competing at an elite level in a sport they love. It is completely unacceptable, particularly when there are no known trans women currently competing in elite swimming.”

Leigh Andrew Hill

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

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QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

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Australian trans folks and LGBTIQ+ advocacy groups are calling on international swimming body FINA to place its new trans-exclusionary policy under review, urging Australian sporting bodies to proceed carefully as the new policy sets a harmful precedent, and warm of violations of human rights principles.

Yesterday it was revealed that FINA members voted to change their policies for trans athletes and aims to create a working group to establish an ‘open’ event for some categories as part of its new policy, after an extraordinary general meeting of the organisation was held alongside the world championships which are taking place in Bucharest.

CEO of Transgender Victoria, Mama Alto, says the decision sets a disappointing precedent for exclusion of transgender women.

“In terms of how FINA’s decision creates a precedent, whilst FINA has now made this decision for elite sports competitions, it is vital that community sports takes a different approach,” Alto said.

“This decision is made in the context of elite, professional, global competition – such as at Olympic level. For community sports, it’s about so much more than just competition: it’s about participation, inclusion, community-building, health and wellbeing. So it is essential that community sports do not follow this exclusive precedent (which is designed for elite level competition).”

“In terms of how FINA’s decision impacts elite professional competitions, FINA’s decision (to exclude transgender women if they have “experienced any part of male puberty beyond Tanner Stage 2 or before age 12, whichever is later”) will actually create further structural inequalities. Access to puberty blockers at this age during a gender transition or affirmation journey is a difficult and inaccessible process, with inconsistencies around the world.”

Alto warns that the decision will create inequality, disadvantage and barriers to trans people based on that access – based on their financial, geographic and sociopolitical situation.

“And that’s a tragic outcome. Ultimately, this decision impacts the inclusion – and hence, safety, dignity and equality – of transgender people.”

National LGBTQIA advocacy group Equality Australia and ACON’s dedicated sports inclusion initiative Pride in Sport have also shared their concerns, saying the FINA policy effectively applies a blanket ban on women who are trans participating in elite swimming, also preventing some intersex women from competing against other women in elite competition.

“All women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, whether they’re trans or not, and regardless of their innate sex characteristics”, said Jackie Turner, Trans Equality Advocate at Equality Australia.

“The fact is that women’s bodies – like all human bodies – are diverse. For a powerful international sporting body such as FINA to determine that only a particular type of woman can compete against other women sets a dangerous precedent, increasing discrimination against trans and intersex people and exposing intersex children to the further risk of so-called ‘sex normalisation’ procedures without their consent.”

The policy also forces all elite athletes to undergo a compulsory assessment to determine their chromosomal sex as a precondition for their participation in elite swimming, further potentially breaching human rights to privacy and prohibitions on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

“This ban will have impacts on the human rights of all athletes, but it will pose specific and serious risks of harm to intersex women and effectively exclude most trans women from competing at an elite level in a sport they love. It is completely unacceptable, particularly when there are no known trans women currently competing in elite swimming”, Turner continues.

“Human rights principles require such policies to start from a place of inclusion unless an exclusion can be justified as proportionate to any risks identified. FINA have failed to meet that standard.”

“FINA should place the policy under review immediately, and urgently provide a detailed explanation of the evidence it relied upon and who was involved in making the determination that such discriminatory and intrusive measures are justified, and that the risks identified could not have been mitigated by anything less than a blanket ban.”

The groups called on decision makers and commentators in Australia – particularly the governing bodies of Australian sporting codes – to proceed with caution, prioritise inclusion, transparency and consultation in their responses.

Emma Staples, Acting National Program Manager at Pride in Sport, adds that sport should be for everyone.

“For years, sporting organisations across Australia have worked hard to include trans women, trans men and non-binary people, and to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and that everyone can participate safely and fairly.”

“This culture of inclusion is something that should be celebrated and protected, but FINA’s blanket ban sets a harmful precedent that threatens to impact sporting communities around the world.

“We look forward to continuing working with sporting bodies in Australia, and urge them to prioritise inclusion, only discriminating where there is clear risk to safety or fairness.”

Equality Australia and Pride in Sport also warned that such a precedent threatens the gains made in diversity and inclusion in the wider Australian community.

Jackie Turner adds that trans people just want to be treated with dignity and respect.

“In recent years, we’ve made significant progress toward ensuring trans people are accepted and celebrated, and to remove some of the barriers we face to participating fully in the community.

“FINA’s policy sets a dangerous precedent of discrimination, and its impacts will be felt widely as anti-equality lobbyists seek to use it to justify excluding trans people from other parts of public life.”

Long-time transgender advocate and former sportswoman, Martine Delaney, has also joined the chorus of voices speaking out against FINA’s decision, saying blanket bans are not the answer.

“I was part of the development of the AFL’s trans player policy and while it is not perfect, it does not rule out entire groups of people,” Delaney explains.

“Instead, more fairly, it deals with individuals on a case-by-case basis.”

“Dealing with individual athletes, rather than banning entire groups, ensures fairness and should be the policy groups like FINA adopt.”

Delaney warns that a blanket ban is an inherently discriminatory response.

“FINA claims its decision is based on science, yet I see no evidence it has taken into account the science showing how hormone replacement reduces athletic capacity in trans women.”

“For example, hormone replacement drastically reduces both muscle mass and the body’s capacity to remove lactic acid.”

“I urge FINA to revisit its decision.”

Leigh Andrew Hill

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

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Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has confirmed to media that the government will introduce religious discrimination legislation this term of Parliament.

Speaking on ABC’s RN Breakfast with Patricia Karvelas, Dreyfus said Labor will introduce a Religious Discrimination Bill reflecting Labor policy that says the party “will prohibit discrimination against LGBTQA+ students and teachers in faith-based schools.”

Labor policy also says religious schools will still be able to preference people of their faith in staff selection.

LGBTQIA+ advocates have raised concerns about the legislation following in the footsteps of the Morrison Government who first proposed the legislation without success.

Just.Equal Australia spokesperson, Brian Greig, said this caveat sets up a contradiction.

“Labor’s policy on teachers in faith-based schools continues to jeopardise the employment of LGBTQA+ staff,” Greig said.

“Our fear is that while Church authorities may not be able to sack existing LGBTQA+ employees, they may still be able to reject new applicants.”

“This situation will allow faith schools to rid themselves of all LGBTQA+ staff over time.”

“We have written to Mr Dreyfus explaining our concerns, calling on the new Government to ensure all teachers and other staff members in faith-based organisations are hired on the basis of their qualifications, not screened out because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Greig said Just.Equal Australia will oppose any Religious Discrimination Bill that infringes on LGBTQA+ human rights.

“We hope Labor will introduce a conventional Religious Discrimination Bill that will prevent discrimination rather than allow more of it, as Scott Morrison’s bill did.”

“But the fact is Labor voted for the Morrison Bill in February, including provisions that overrode existing LGBTQA+ discrimination protections.”

“We will scrutinise every section of Labor’s bill to ensure it does not erode hard-won rights.”

National LGBTIQ+ group, Equality Australia, is also urging the government to avoid the mistakes of its predecessor, and to prioritise the protection of LGBTQ+ people in religious organisations.

“Our laws should protect all of us, equally, no matter who we are, whom we love or what we believe,” said Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia.

“Labor must avoid the mistakes of the previous government that instead introduced a Religious Discrimination Bill that would have wound back protections for women, LGBTIQ+ people, people with disability and people of faith, undermining inclusive workplaces and access to judgement-free healthcare.”

The Attorney-General made the remarks on ABC’s RN Breakfast earlier today. Prior to the election, Labor committed its support to the “extension of the federal anti-discrimination framework to ensure that Australians are not discriminated against because of their religious beliefs or activities,” but it remains unclear what form the protections may take.

“While Labor’s statements prior to the election are a welcome indication it is committed to ensuring protections for people of faith don’t result in discrimination against others, the government must ensure any reform raises the standard for everyone and doesn’t override existing protections,” said Brown.

Equality Australia pointed to recent public examples of discrimination against LGBTQ+ students and teachers by religious schools as evidence of the urgent need to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. The group called on the government to introduce laws to remove outdated exemptions to relevant laws in its first hundred days.

“Labor must first act swiftly to fill gaps in protection for LGBTQ+ students and teachers in religious schools and extend those same protections to all staff working in any faith-based organisations, and LGBTQ+ people accessing services from religious providers,” said Brown.

“In 2013, the Labor Government removed religious exemptions from the aged-care sector, and faith-based providers embraced the opportunity to promote inclusion. It’s time to ensure that all goods and services are delivered without discrimination and that staff in these services are protected at work.”

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LGBTQIA+ advocates and medical professionals are standing up for trans lives and healthcare after misinformation shared by the Prime Minister this morning.

Representatives from advocacy group Transcend Australia, the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH) and Equality Australia are setting out to set the record straight.

This morning, Scott Morrison said he is standing by Warringah candidate Katherine Deves, after she walked back her apology for past anti-trans comments. The PM then told media that minors were undergoing gender confirmation surgery – a procedure that is not available to under-18s in Australia.

“It’s deeply concerning to see the Prime Minister spreading these alarmist views when the reality is that young transgender people struggle to access the care that they need, when they need it”, said Jeremy Wiggins, Executive Officer of Transcend Australia.

“These are personal decisions about healthcare that should be left to young people and the doctors and parents that support them, rather than debated by politicians in the middle of a federal election campaign.”

“The real key issues impacting trans young people and their families include the lack of appropriately funded health and support services, and the high rates of harassment and abuse, which are actually driving poor mental health rates for our community, resulting in higher rates of self-harm and suicidality.”

“If the Morrison Government is serious about reducing suicide, then these debates need to be held sensitively with key experts including transgender people and their families. We invite the Prime Minister to meet with us, to better understand the challenges we face.”

Dr Fiona Bisshop, President of AusPATH (Australian Professional Association for Trans Health) said she was disappointed that the Prime Minister failed to speak up for trans people, when asked whether he endorsed the comments by controversial candidate Katherine Deves.

“I see how profoundly life changing and lifesaving gender affirming care can be for those young people that need it. Decisions about medical care should be made between the patient and their treating team, rather than being the subject of political debate.”

“Genital surgery is only performed on adults. In rare cases, older trans teenage boys undergo surgery on their upper bodies. These treatments help young people to be able to leave the house, go to school and live their lives rather than stay at home crippled by anxiety and dysphoria. The difficulties experienced by trans young people are made all the worse by politicians with no expertise attacking their care. This needs to stop.”

Anna Brown, lawyer and CEO of Equality Australia referred to the difficulties that young transgender people had experienced over time in accessing gender affirming care and the need for barriers to be removed rather than increased.

“It’s incredibly disappointing to see our Prime Minister make these sorts of comments, about a very vulnerable group of Australians that he clearly knows little about.

“We have some of the world’s leading clinicians and experts in transgender healthcare in Australia and the gender affirming model of care adopted in children’s hospitals in Australia has been upheld by the Family Court.

“Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect when accessing the care they need.

“Political parties and candidates should be focused on how they can remove barriers to accessing lifesaving healthcare for trans people, and turning around the appalling mental health outcomes for these communities, rather than contributing to them through these cruel and uninformed debates.”

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

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Anna Brown, the CEO of Equality Australia, has warned political parties not to take LGBTIQ+ voters for granted.

Brown said the constant debate over the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people’s lives was making people sceptical of political parties motives and it was time for politicians to stop using the queer communities as a “political football”.

“This election, candidates cannot afford to take LGBTIQ+ voters for granted,” Brown said.

“After a series of divisive debates focused on the lives of LGBTIQ+ people, many of our community have become sceptical of the political parties and are yet to make up their mind about who they’ll vote for.

“This election, parties and candidates must act to address issues of concern to LGBTIQ+ people if they are to win back the support of the voters they’ve lost and to build support amongst those that are undecided.”

Equality Australia’s statement comes as the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, voiced his support for legislation that would allow for discrimination against transgender women in the sporting realm.

On Monday Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was proud to have selected Save Women’s Sport Australasia founder Katherine Deves to be the Liberal candidate for the Sydney seat of Warringah.

Morrison also reiterated his personal support for a private members bill put forward by Tasmania Liberal senator Claire Chandler. Senator Chandler’s bill calls for sporting groups to be given permission to ban transgender women from participating in sport.

The PM told reporters that he’d have more announcements to make about Chandler’s bill during the election campaign, leading to speculation that it might move from being a private member’s bill to a government endorsed proposal.

Last week during a television interview South Australian Liberal senator Alex Antic said he was “not sure” if Chandler’s bill had become a government bill yet. Senator Antic recently quizzed bureaucrats on how they defined a woman during Senate Estimates.

While there are several government members who have voiced support for Senator Chandler’s bill, there are also a significant number of Liberal members who have voiced their opposition to the proposal.

OIP Staff

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LGBTQIA+ advocates are celebrating the end of a bill put forward by NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham targeting trans and gender diverse young people, as the state government release a report outlining their opposition to the legislation.

The report from NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell lists four reasons the Perrottet Government will not support the legislation, highlighting that many aspects of the bill are enacted through current legislation and practice, while others are operationally impossible such as “defining a coherent set of community ‘core values’ agreed upon by all parents”.

Jack Whitney, Convenor of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSWGLRL), says the One Nation’s Education Bill sought to attack the wellbeing of students and teachers in our schools.

“We came together as a community to say no against discriminating against trans and gender diverse students by denying their existence and preventing social workers, counsellors and teachers to support them. Thank you to all the advocates and community members in what was a hard fought campaign”.

NSWGLRL led the effort to creating a joint statement against the bill early in its history. The joint statement was a diverse group of community and civil society organisations in NSW, from the Teacher’s Federation, NSWCCL, NCOSS, Youth Action, ACON and more.

Last year, Whitney presented evidence and testimony with Twenty10 and Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth on the dangerous and harmful Education Bill proposed by Latham.

“We know the evidence – this bill does nothing to improve educational outcomes and removing bullying in our schools. It deliberately attacks teachers and LGBTIQ+ students, particularly trans and gender diverse students,” Whitney stated.

“Supporting fair and equal access to education to all children is not negotiable. Every child in NSW should have the opportunity to reach their full potential in a welcoming environment. Every student should be able to sit side-by-side with their peers in the class room without fear of discrimination. All students should feel at ease and belonging in their school. All students, no matter who they are, deserve respect and dignity.”

“Mark Latham and One Nation don’t represent the NSW Community. One Nation sought to divide our state. But we said no. We are proud of what we have been able to achieve here today, but the fight doesn’t end here”, Whitney said.

National LGBTQIA+ advocacy group Equality Australia are also happy to see the back of the bill.

“Every child deserves a quality education in a school where they have a place and feel valued,” said Ghassan Kassisieh, Legal Director of Equality Australia.

“The LGBTIQ+ community in New South Wales will breathe a little easier today, as the NSW Government has stood up to One Nation’s bullying of trans and gender diverse kids, affirming their right to connect, succeed and thrive at school.”

ACON’s acting director for Community Health and Wellbeing, the sole trans person invited to give evidence at the bill’s committee hearings, commended the Perrottet Government for their decision.

“All children flourish and succeed when they are affirmed and supported for who they are,” Cook said.

“It’s fantastic to see the NSW government today stand by trans kids and their families, who already face so many barriers, and experience disproportionate levels of bullying and harassment.

“Trans kids already experience extremely concerning negative mental health impacts, as we see in research findings all over the world. One Nation’s Bill would only have made schools less safe for trans students, and placed lives at risk.”

OIP Staff

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