Scott Morrison has thrown his support behind a push to ban trans women from competing in female sport, describing the proposed change as “brave”.
The Prime Minister on Monday flagged the possibility of legislating the ban if he is returned to power at the May 21 federal election.
He endorsed the campaigns of two Liberal women who have advocated for the ban, including that of his hand-picked candidate for the Sydney seat of Warringah, Katherine Deves.
Ms Deves co-founded the Save Women’s Sport lobby group, which calls on sports organisations to outlaw trans women — who identify with a different gender to the one they were thought to be at birth — from female sports.
Mr Morrison said Ms Deves was an “outstanding individual” who was “right on the money”.
“She’s standing up for things she believes in. And I share her views on those topics and I think it’s important they’re raised,” he told 2GB radio.
“And it’s got nothing to do with the broader gender debates. This is just about common sense and what’s right.”
Mr Morrison was asked later on Monday if he would introduce legislation in the next term of parliament to effectively prohibit trans women from competing in female sports.
“I think I conveyed my own personal view on these matters,” he told journalists on the NSW south coast.
“We will have more to say about that at another time. If I do, I will. We will deal with that another time.”
Mr Morrison earlier this year backed a push by Tasmanian Liberal senator Claire Chandler to allow sporting groups to prohibit transgender people from single-sex sports.
Senator Chandler in February introduced a private member’s bill to amend the Sex Discrimination Act, so it was legal to exclude people of one biological sex from sports “intended” for people of a different biological sex.
“I support it, as Claire knows. I think it’s a terrific bill and I’ve given her great encouragement,” Mr Morrison said at time
Mr Morrison on Monday said Senator Chandler had been “outspoken anxjmtzywd brave on these issues” and that he shared her views.
His official election campaign kicked off on Monday, with the Coalition hoping to secure a fourth term in office.
