Health Department has hidden a gender

The head of the federal Health ­Department has not been able to provide a definition of the word ‘woman’ when asked, saying it’s a ‘very contested space’.

Health Department secretary Brendan Murphy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The head of the federal Health ­Department has not been able to provide a definition of the word “woman” when asked, saying it’s a “very contested space”.

During a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday, Liberal senator Alex Antic posed a seemingly simple question to senior health bureaucrats, including ­department secretary Brendan Murphy, but was met with an ­extended silence in response.

“Can someone please provide me with a definition of what a woman is?” Senator Antic asked. “Department of Health? Definition of a man, of a woman? Anyone? Professor Murphy?”

Dr Murphy, the nation’s most senior health bureaucrat, ­responded: “Look, I think there are a variety of definitions.”

When Senator Antic asked for just a “simple one”, Dr Murphy declined, instead saying: “No, well there are a variety – it’s a very … it’s a very contested space at the moment, senator.

“I mean, there are obviously biological definitions but there are definitions in terms of how people identify themselves, so we’re happy to provide our working definition on notice.”

Senator Antic said: “It’s not just that a woman was born a woman? This is hilarious. I’ve only been here two years, that’s the best thing I’ve seen thus far.”

On Thursday, Senator Antic suggested Dr Murphy had been reticent to provide a definition due to fears about a backlash.

“I think people like Dr Murphy – I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but I wonder whether secretly he also thinks it’s ludicrous but he is concerned about the backlash amongst the rank and file,” he told 2GB.

“In one sense, you don’t want to attack the man. It’s more an issue of showing how far the ­insidious creep of radical gender theory has drifted through our ­institutions – it is endemic.”