Transgender rights advocates: our support counts

Scott Morrison doubles down on transgender sports stance but Equality Australia says a survey shows major parties could lose support over rights.

Katherine Deves, Liberal candidate in the independent-held Sydney electorate of Warringah, and co-founder of Save Women's Sport, which is pushing to ban transwomen from female-only sports.

Major parties have been told that they will lose support at the polls if they “refuse to stand up” for people in the LGBTIQ+ community, with one in three LGBTIQ+ voters undecided or considering changing their vote this election.

It follows Scott Morrison backing a campaign to ban transgender women from playing women-only sports, called for by the Liberal candidate for Warringah, Katherine Deves, among others.

Warringah, in Sydney’s Mosman-Manly northeast suburbs, is held by independent Zali Steggall, who wrested the seat off former prime minister Tony Abbott at the 2019 election.

Ms Deves is the co-founder of the Save Women’s Sport organisation, which is pushing to ban transwomen from female-only sports or create a separate category for them to compete in.

Sitting Tasmanian Liberal senator Claire Chandler introduced a bill to parliament in February to legislate the sorts of changes called for by the organisation.

The Prime Minister said at the time it was a “terrific bill” and he supported Senator Chandler’s role in it.

Mr Morrison on Monday doubled down on his position and Ms Deves’ activism in the space.

“I think she raised very important issues and I think Claire Chandler‘s also been outspoken and brave on these issues,” he said.

“I share their views.”

Independent MP for Warringah, Zali Steggall.

The comments were slammed by the peak national body representing LGBTIQ+ people, Equality Australia, which pointed to survey results of the voting intentions of those in the LGBTIQ+ community as a warning against such messaging.

“Politicians must learn that there is nothing to be gained by refusing to stand up for LGBTIQ+ people or using debate about our lives to score cheap political points,” Equality Australia chief executive Anna Brown said.

“Enough is enough. The political parties that wish to form government this coming election must commit to governing for all Australians, and to ensuring that every person in Australia can live their life, with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, or whom they love.”

Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown and former Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe hold signs against the government's religious discrimination bill in February. Picture: AAP

The survey conducted by Equality Australia of almost 7800 people was the first of its kind and showed one in three LGBTIQ voters was either undecided or considering changing their vote this election.

Of those, 30 per cent lived in regional areas, with the remainder in capital cities or metropolitan areas, and almost 95 per cent said LGBTIQ+ issues would be important in determining who they voted for.

“This election, candidates cannot afford to take LGBTIQ+ voters for granted,” Ms Brown said.

“After a series of divisive debates focused on the lives of LGBTIQ+ people, many of our community have become sceptical of the political parties and are yet to make up their mind about who they’ll vote for.

“This election, parties and candidates must act to address issues of concern to LGBTIQ+ people if they are to win back the support of the voters they’ve lost and to build support amongst those that are undecided.”

At least 4 per cent of the population, or about 1 million people, identify as LGBTIQ+, according to surveys.

Ms Brown said the survey demonstrated the LGBTIQ+ community was “deeply disappointed” that federal law still allowed religious schools to expel, fire or otherwise discriminate against students or staff because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

It follows a heated debate over religious discrimination earlier this year, with five moderate Liberals crossing the floor over parts of the legislation because of concerns schools would be able to discriminate against transgender students.

The internal division prompted the government to pull the bill from debate, breaking an election promise in 2019 to pass it in this term.

Christian Schools Australia on Monday urged for whichever party won government to pick the issue back up after the election and ensure Australia had stronger protections for religious freedoms.

“Both the government and opposition have talked of the fundamental importance of protections against discrimination for people of faith, and the need to ensure that religious bodies can protect their ethos, but more than talk is needed,” Christian Schools director of public policy Mark Spencer said.

“Candidates across the nation must be clear on where they stand individually on this issue.”