A Man Walks Into A Women’s Changing Room….

No – this headline is not the start of a joke. It is a very serious topic that needs more attention.

In 1902, Australia became the first country in the world to allow women both the right to vote and to stand for representation in National Parliament. Since then, our country has led the way in advancing women’s rights and equality. In many countries around the world, women still have very few rights. They are seen as a lesser sex, and in some places young girls are sold off into marriage – a truly horrifying and unthinkable proposition for any Australian parent. Earlier this year, I was proud and very pleased to walk my daughter down the aisle to a man I know loves and respects her as an equal. We are so blessed in Australia.

However, there is one area where we must urgently change the law to protect women. I’m talking about gender identification and sex discrimination laws. We must not allow biological men to compete in women’s sport or to access women only spaces such as change rooms or public bathrooms.

I very much respect everyone’s right to choose how they live their lives, what views they hold or how they dress. People may identify as whatever gender they choose.  I support this because it’s their life, and they have the right to live it as they choose.

But my caveat is clear. Those choices should not impact the rights and safety of others. And right now, in Australia, in some circumstances, women’s rights are being undermined.

Current Australian laws have opened the way for biological males who identify as women to participate in female sports and to access female only spaces. This is wrong. It creates an unfair playing field in sport, increases the risk of injury to female athletes, and erodes a woman’s right to feel safe and comfortable in vulnerable spaces.

Australia’s gender identification and sex discrimination laws are failing to protect woman’s  rights. In 2013, the biological definitions of “man” and “woman” were removed from the Sex Discrimination Act. This act once designed to protect women, is now being used to against  them. In 2022, Liberal Senator, Claire Chandler introduced her Save Women’s Sport Bill, which seeks to reintroduce biological definitions and strengthen the act to allow for single sex sport. I fully support Senator Chandler and her continued fight.

This issue extends beyond sport. Sall Grover, founder of the female-only App Giggle, is appealing a court ruling that found her guilty of indirect discrimination for excluding a trans-identified male. The App is intended as a women’s only forum for connection and support.  When the laws allow for such a ruling, the laws need to be changed.

Women shouldn’t have to compete against biological males on the sporting field and they certainly shouldn’t have their rights to feel safe and secure challenged.

Australia must continue to pursue and uphold equality while celebrating the differences of biological gender.