South Australian government will not support proposed inquiry into gender dysphoria

A push for a national-first parliamentary inquiry into gender dysphoria and medical care appears to be dead in the water after just hours.

A proposed parliamentary inquiry into gender dysphoria – which would have probed treatment and support for young people – will not be supported by the government.

The nation-first inquiry has been put forward by independent MLC Frank Pangallo, who has secured support from some members of the Liberal opposition and One Nation MLC Sarah Game.

Mr Pangallo told the parliament last year his motion “deals with the issue of gender dysphoria and gender-affirming care”.

“This subject is perhaps one of the most complex and controversial medical issues confronting our society today,” he said.

“This social contagion, relatively obscure in the last century, and mostly associated with pre-pubescent boys, is now sweeping the world at such a frenetic pace that it is becoming increasingly difficult to determine whether the practices and policies … are helping individuals or is it causing them more harm than good in the long term; is it evidence based?”

But the inquiry will not receive the required support to go ahead, after Premier Peter Malinauskas said Labor would vote against it.

“I’m not too sure if a parliamentary inquiry – that would be hyper-political in nature, that would only seek to perpetuate the culture wars – is the best way to do a medical examination of medical policy,” he said.

“I would much rather any sort of examination of this to be done in a methodical, policy-based way, based on the science, the best available medical advice.”

He said Labor MPs would not be allowed a conscience vote on the matter.

Liberal MPs will be allowed a conscience vote, with Michelle Lensink already declaring she will not support the inquiry. The Greens will also vote against it.

MLC Frank Pangallo said gender dysphoria and care was one of the most complex and controversial issues in society today. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Premier Peter Malinauskas confirmed Labor would be joining the Greens in rejecting the inquiry. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance (SARAA) spokesperson Rebecca Galdies said gender-affirming care should be left to medical experts – not politicians.

“We have some of the world’s leading clinicians and experts in transgender healthcare in Australia and they are best placed to make decisions about the kinds of care provided to young people,” she said.

“An inquiry would only generate unnecessary and damaging debates, causing harm to an already vulnerable group of people, when the evidence on the benefits of gender affirming care is clear and well-established.

“We are calling on all of the state’s politicians to read the evidence, listen to the community and vote this down.”

A vote on the motion is due to take place on Wednesday.