NT opposition leader Selena Uibo, CLP responds to gender transition treatment petition

Territory Labor will not be supporting a controversial petition calling for the suspension of gender transition treatment for children. But the CLP declined to reveal its position.

NT Opposition Leader Selena Uibo says her party will not support the petition’s requests. Picture: Fia Walsh.

Territory Labor will not be supporting a controversial petition calling for Parliament to suspend gender transition treatment for children, with Opposition leader Selena Uibo declaring her team will not be playing “political games”.

The announcement comes after Speaker and Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley presented a petition to Parliament concerning “gender care provided to Territory children” earlier this month.

Organised by the Australian Christian Lobby, the petition called for the suspension of all medical and surgical transitioning treatments on NT children.

The petition, signed by 463 people, was an unexpected surprised for many in Parliament this month. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The petition also requested the NT Government commission an independent inquiry into gender care with a view to investigate the legitimacy of gender treatments provided in the Territory.

A total of 463 people signed the petition.

Ms Uibo swiftly shut down the topic, telling this masthead her team would not entertain the issue.

“Labor will not be playing political games on such an emotional and personal topic,” she said.

“We will not be supporting this petition.”

CLP spokesperson Steve Edgington maintains the government’s focus is on crime, saying the petition would be considered at a “later date”. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Meanwhile, Country Liberal Party’s Steve Edgington maintained the Territory’s newly-elected government remained fixated on crime and would examine the petition at “a later date”.

“The government’s focus has been on our immediate reducing crime package to make the Territory safe,” he said.

“Any petitions read in the chamber are referred to the Public Accounts Committee to determine if they should be debated at a later date.”

The Australian Christian Lobby is campaigning to stop gender transition treatment for children. Source: ACL.

ACL NT director Nicholas Lay said he expected parliamentarians to look past the “contentious nature” of the issue.

Mr Lay also revealed the signatures were collated at a show event.

“I would say 99 per cent of people (I spoke to) signed the petition on the spot and I have found very little opposition on this issue,” he said.