Gender

The Hon. S.L. GAME (17:10): I move:

That this council—

1. Accepts that there are biologically two sexes and, in turn, a reflection of two genders;

2. Acknowledges that two genders have been accepted common knowledge for most of history;

3. Recognises that the idea of binary genders not being accepted language is denigrating to both males and females and harmful to our traditions; and

4. Acknowledges the importance of gendered language in society, specifically for explicit language and communication.

There are two genders: male and female. Gender is determined by one's biological sex. One cannot simply choose their gender, swap and change. Basic science tells us this. Not only is the difference between male and female clear and obvious on a gross macroscopic level, but our sex and thus our gender can be exposed and determined by the DNA in every cell in our body.

The sex of a baby, and thus the gender, is determined at fertilisation. The event is then recorded in every cell in our body as it is reviewed through cellular division. This basic biological truth has become a statement one must be too afraid to make. This is ridiculous. I understand the burden of my position and I will fulfill in this chamber my obligation to what I believe is the silent majority who expect more from their politicians than to bow to the pressure of the left.

It seems we live in a society where small children can better explain what makes a man and a woman than world leaders and eminent figures. Our own federal department of health struggled defining a woman, taking four months to respond when questioned in the Senate. Earlier this month, the New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins refused to define a woman, stating 'People define themselves,' and that the question had 'come out of left field' and that he did not have a 'preformulated answer on it'.

Our children know who is male and who is female; that is, until they are brainwashed by the woke societal values impressed on them such as the gender unicorn or genderbred man embedded into the year 7 state curriculum. It is vital that the parliament retain gendered pronouns 'he' and 'she'. Removing essential identifiers is the beginning of the slippery slope in what has quite frankly become a sex confusion pandemic amongst our young people.

I do not accept bullying of any kind, but should this generosity not be extended to those who understand there are two genders, male and female, and who want to protect their children? I have spoken to the stressed parents of sex-confused children. They adore their children, they love their children unconditionally, but they speak in detail of bullying and harassment in the workplace and school environment for their attempts to do everything right and protective.

Adopting the minority ideology and enforcing it on the majority is not right. The 2021 census allowed for the first time to use a third option in the gender category; 0.17 per cent of the Australian population ticked that box. You make exceptions to the rules, not rules for the exception.

School principals are too afraid to speak out, for fear of persecution and job loss. It seems one must accept that gender is fluid and take an affirmation-only approach to sex confusion, or face being cut out and excluded from decision-making for one's own child.

Instead of protecting society, representing and advocating for our community, politicians are often making matters worse. We have seen bipartisan support for removal of 'he' and 'she', and our parliamentary committee, which consists of Liberal and Labor members, decided that the term 'opposite sex' may be discriminatory. The parliament is wasting its time on a small percentage of people who want to dictate how we live.

It was reported recently that the Legislative Council adopted genderless standing orders in 1999. The House of Assembly attempted this almost 10 years prior, but it can be said that motivations were different then. They were more concerned about gender equality. How can we have equality between the genders if they are not even recognised or understood?

I know the woke brigade think that feelings trump fact in lawmaking, but laws based on feelings are fluid and subject to change, which is an unsound basis on which to make laws. It is damaging to society and, in particular, to our children. Parliament must retain fundamental essential terminology and set an example and uphold truth in this place. Teachers must have the right and the confidence to refer to their students as boys and girls.

In 2013, in the commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act 1984, discrimination based on biological sex was replaced with discrimination based on self-identified gender. This development was a mistake because the hard-won rights of women are being lost, and children are being indoctrinated with the belief that they can choose to be male or female.

Tonje Gjevjon, a filmmaker in Norway, now faces up to three years in prison for saying that transgender men cannot be lesbian. This is a dangerous precedent to set as punishment for stating the absolute fact. In America, the Governor of Florida is before a United States district court because he supports sex being defined according to biology, on the basis that physical characteristics of men and women are enduring, stable and objective. I agree.

I stand alone in this chamber today, but I know others here feel the same. I will, in the near future, be calling this motion to a vote to clarify where we all stand, what we believe in, and for public accountability. I commend this motion to the house.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. L.A. Henderson.