Equality advocates have criticised Scott Morrison after he threw his support behind a push to ban transgender women from competing in female sport and described 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 rightxjmtzyw.”
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 as “terrific” 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 that sought 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.
Her bill was introduced amid debate over the Morrison government’s divisive religious discrimination bill, which was ultimately ditched after five Liberal MPs crossed the floor to add protections for transgender students.
Mr Morrison on Monday said Senator Chandler had been “outspoken and brave on these issues” and that he shared her views.
His remarks drew condemnation from Equality Australia, which on Monday released a survey of almost 7800 people that found one in three LGBTIQA+ people was either undecided or considering changing their vote at this election.
“Politicians must learn that there is nothing to be gained by refusing to stand up for LGBTIQA+ people or using debate about our lives to score cheap political points,” the advocacy body’s chief executive officer Anna Brown said.
“The political parties that wish to form government this coming election must commit to governing for all Australians, and to ensuring that every person in Australia can live their life, with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, or whom they love.”
Brown said many members of the LGBTIQA+ community had become sceptical after a series of divisive political debates focused on their lives.
Greens senator Janet Rice said it was deeply concerning that Mr Morrison had flagged the potential for legislating Senator Chandler’s “transphobic, hateful bill”.
“In what way is it ‘brave’ to target trans kids for discrimination who are just trying to live their lives in peace and play some sport?” Senator Rice said.
Netball Australia, the country’s largest female participation sport, was one of eight national sporting organisations that in late 2020 introduced a policy around the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse athletes in elite competitions.
The policy was based on athletes being tested for testosterone levels.
Netball Australia’s former chief executive officer Marne Fechner said at the time it was their role as leaders to provide an environment where transgender and gender diverse people felt welcome.
Mr Morrison’s official 2022 election campaign kicked off on Monday, with the Coalition hoping to secure a fourth term in office.
