20th Mar 2023, 4:30 PM – Senate Matters of Urgency - Gender Dysphoria - For an inquiry

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson (One Nation), which means it failed.

Motion text

That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:

The need for an inquiry into the rising number of children suffering from gender dysphoria in Australia and the increasing number of children being treated for gender dysphoria at gender clinics, to examine the causes and possible remedies for this trend and to ensure that children and their families receive appropriate support and care.

Rebellion

NSW Senator Andrew Bragg (Liberal) rebelled and crossed the floor to vote "No" in this division, against the rest of the Liberal Party, who voted "Yes".

Why are politicians so focused on trans people?

Trans people make up a tiny proportion of the population and tend to be highly vulnerable for many intersecting reasons (socio-economic position, mental health issues, social isolation, etc). This makes them an easy target.

Today, in countries like the USA and elsewhere, anti-trans sentiment is acting as a 'gateway issue' for those who want to target bodily autonomy, including getting rid of a cis woman's right to abortion and everyone's right to contraception. Just take a look at our own bodily autonomy policy and compare it with our transgender rights policy.

For those who are genuine in their interest about transgender youth, there are many good resources out there, such as this article from The Conversation about the rising profile of transgender children. Trans Health Australia also provides links to many relevant peer-reviewed publications.