Peter Malinauskas kills off landmark South Australian gender dysphoria inquiry

A bid to hold the nation’s first parliamentary inquiry into the treatment of young people with gender dysphoria has been quashed, with SA Labor refusing MPs a conscience vote.

The push for a transgender treatment inquiry was effectively dead when Premier Peter Malinauskas finally showed his hand on the issue on Tuesday.

The push to hold the nation’s first parliamentary inquiry into the treatment of young people with gender dysphoria has been killed off after South Australian Labor refused its MPs a conscience vote on the issue.

Several members of the more socially conservative South Australian branch of the ALP were ready to support the motion by independent MLC Frank Pangallo for an inquiry amid a major increase in the number of young people transitioning in SA.

It is the third time in a year that an inquiry into the issue has been killed off, with the push by Pauline Hanson federally and ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming in Victoria both failing to win parliamentary support.

Mr Pangallo’s push for an inquiry was effectively dead when Premier Peter Malinauskas finally showed his hand on the issue on Tuesday, saying he feared that the inquiry could become a vehicle for “culture wars” arguments.

His comments have been labelled “a cop-out” by Mr Pangallo and proof that Labor remained “beholden to the Hard Left” on the issue.

Mr Malinauskas said he supported the caucus decision to block a free vote, despite some members of his own party holding concerns about the rigour surrounding the management of transgender cases.

“I am not too sure if a parliamentary inquiry that would be highly political in nature and that would only seek to perpetuate the culture wars is the best way to do a proper examination of medical policy,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“These are questions of science in terms of best practice and medicine as distinct from a political forum for people to prosecute the culture wars which I think people know I’m not particularly keen on.

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

“The conscience vote is a really precious tool within the parliamentary Labor Party.

“It is used sparingly. I am not aware of a precedent for a conscience vote for an Upper House select committee.”

Mr Pangallo said he had “never seen such a cop-out by a political leader”.

“For the Premier to say parliament has no place inquiring into this area is either utterly naive or disingenuous. I suspect the latter,” Mr Pangallo told The Australian.

“Since when has parliament not had the responsibility and obligation to look into issues causing concern and unease in the community? In recent years we have voted on sensitive issues like Voluntary Assisted Dying, abortion and reforms for sex workers. They even banned people from silently praying near abortion clinics.

“As legislators it is our role to look at anything and everything that might require action or legislation by the parliament. Such a stance begs the question, why are we here then?”

Mr Pangallo said the caucus stance had prevented Labor MPs from airing their concerns about the issue.

“I am bitterly disappointed with the decision by Labor but not surprised,” he said.

“Sadly Labor MPs to continue to be pressured by its hard-wing Left and the vocal minority of transgender activists and ideologists without looking into a growing body of medical evidence from around the globe which is urging caution and review of current practices.

“This inquiry was never going to be a witch hunt. It was about ensuring we were doing the right thing to protect and help vulnerable children. This is about child welfare and Labor has shamefully turned their back on them.”

The Greens also said they opposed the proposed motion, saying it risked becoming a vilification exercise against trans people.

Mr Pangallo told The Australian that he would continue to pursue the issue and had spoken to several families whose children had transitioned or almost transitioned and come to regret the process.