One Nation’s Sarah Game says ‘parents, not schools’ in charge of pronouns if new bill succeeds

After Victoria introduced a controversial ‘Rainbow Toolkit’ last month, One Nation is pushing to scrap similar rules in SA that let schoolkids pick their pronouns without parents’ permission.

South Australian public school teachers must use a child’s preferred pronouns even against parents’ wishes, under rules that a prominent crossbencher wants changed.

Victoria’s government last month revealed a Rainbow Toolkit for libraries, which advised staff to ask children their pronouns and offer badges listing them, among other recommendations that worried family groups.

But The Advertiser can report similar guidelines were issued to SA teachers several years ago in a public document labelled ‘Gender diverse and intersex children and young people support procedure’.

One Nation MLC Sarah Game has introduced a bill that would give parents more control over how their children are taught about sexuality. Picture: Keryn Stevens

The Education Department-approved guidelines provide “guidance for the support of gender diverse children and young people”.

However, if parents do not support gender affirmation, “the site leader [i.e. principal] must decide what is in the best interests of the child” and “the primary consideration is (their) safety and wellbeing”.

“There will be some situations where it is not possible to reach agreement between the child and their parents … If the site leader determines that supporting gender affirmation is in a child or young person’s best interest, this procedure must be followed to make support arrangements,” the guidelines read.

These arrangements include using a child’s preferred name and gender identifier.

One Nation upper house member Sarah Game criticised the policy and said her new bill would prohibit “gender fluidity education” in public schools.

“We object to this because, as I have made clear publicly with the introduction of my Parental Primacy Bill, it’s my firm belief that parents, not schools, are in charge of the moral and ethical teaching of their children,” Ms Game said.

“So we do feel that situations like this could be challenged in a legislative way.”

However, Education Department chief executive Professor Martin Westwell said the rules have been in place since 2016 and encourage schools to “work closely with parents”.

Education Department chief executive Martin Westwell said the guidelines encouraged schools to “work closely with parents and create an inclusive educational environment”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Education Minister Blair Boyer said the government would consider its position on the bill. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“Every child and young person has the right to receive a quality education in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment – and feeling a strong sense of belonging,” he said.

“We know that the best outcomes for a gender diverse child or young person happen when they are supported by their family. As with all school matters, site leaders are responsible for determining what is in the best interest of protecting the safety and wellbeing of a child or young person, always working closely with the family in doing so.”

Education Minister Blair Boyer said the cabinet would consider its position but that he “support(s) schools working closely with families to support their children”.

Shadow Education Minister John Gardner said it would likely be put to a conscience vote and that “the Liberal Party has always put the role of parents and carers, and their relationship with their children, front and centre”.

Ms Game’s bill will be voted on later this year.

Originally published as One Nation’s Sarah Game says ‘parents, not schools’ in charge of pronouns if new bill succeeds