Schools, Non-binary Students

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:32): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Education in the other place, a question about school students identifying as non-binary.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority has released data revealing the number of school students identifying as neither male nor female is now 20 times higher than it was in 2019. The data reveals at least 2,560 students enrolled in schools around the country as non-binary last year, up from just 128 in 2019.

The spike in non-binary identification among children is seeing schools introduce gender neutral uniforms, combined boys and girls toilet facilities, and the use of personal pronouns. A report in today's The Australian says the SA education department has issued a new and outrageous mandated procedure in February to let schools override parents' views on a child's gender. The procedure states and I quote:

When parents make it clear they do not support their child's gender affirmation, the site leader must decide what is in the best interests of the child or young person. The primary consideration is the safety and wellbeing of the child or young person within the learning setting. Sometimes a child or young person might not want their parents to know about their gender diversity.

It goes even further and states that a student's:

…preferred name and pronoun must be used by staff, children and young people regardless of enrolment information…even if no agreement can be reached with the parents.

My questions to the Attorney-General, and subsequently to the education minister, are:

1. As a parent with children at school, would you be happy if your children's school made a decision affecting your child without telling you or their mother?

2. Why should the education department override the rights of the child's parents and determine that a total stranger to them knows what is best for their children?

3. Can he seek information from the education minister about who he consulted about this policy change and whether any schools consulted parents about this policy change?

4. Can the education minister provide details about the number of school students identifying as non-binary in South Australian schools each year since 2020?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:35): I will be happy to pass those questions on to the minister in another place and seek to bring back a reply.