News and Events => Political and Legal News => Topic started by: Sarah B on July 02, 2026, 08:43:51 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Labor, Green cowards block Hanson Bill on biological gender identity
Post by: Sarah B on July 02, 2026, 08:43:51 PM
Post by: Sarah B on July 02, 2026, 08:43:51 PM
Title: Labor, Green cowards block Hanson Bill on biological gender identity
Link To: Article (https://cairnsnews.org/2026/07/02/labor-green-cowards-block-hanson-bill-on-biological-gender-identity/)
Author: cairnsnews
Date: Jul 2, 2026
Trigger Warning: This article discusses suicide.
Brief summary of the article
The article reports that Labor and Greens senators blocked Pauline Hanson's Sex Discrimination Amendment (Acknowledging Biological Reality) Bill 2024 from being restored to the Senate Notice Paper. It describes parliamentary responses from One Nation, Liberal and Greens senators and connects the bill to recent legal disputes involving gender identity and female-only spaces.
Main Points of the Article
"The Epoch Times reported that the two parties blocked the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Acknowledging Biological Reality) Bill 2024 at the first reading stage before it could even get on to the floor of the Senate."
"The motion was defeated 32–25, with Labor and the Greens voting against it, while the Liberal Party supported the motion alongside One Nation."
"The bill seeks to remove 'gender identity' from the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and replace it with definitions of 'man' and 'woman' based on biological sex at birth."
"Greens Senator Nick McKim sought leave to make a one-minute statement after the vote, but leave was not granted. Labor and the Greens otherwise did not speak on the motion."
"Liberal Senator Alex Antic questioned why Labor and the Greens were unwilling to debate the motion, describing it as staggering that the two parties had voted together to defeat Hanson's attempt to restore her bill to the Notice Paper."
Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
Link To: Article (https://cairnsnews.org/2026/07/02/labor-green-cowards-block-hanson-bill-on-biological-gender-identity/)
Author: cairnsnews
Date: Jul 2, 2026
Trigger Warning: This article discusses suicide.
Brief summary of the article
The article reports that Labor and Greens senators blocked Pauline Hanson's Sex Discrimination Amendment (Acknowledging Biological Reality) Bill 2024 from being restored to the Senate Notice Paper. It describes parliamentary responses from One Nation, Liberal and Greens senators and connects the bill to recent legal disputes involving gender identity and female-only spaces.
Main Points of the Article
"The Epoch Times reported that the two parties blocked the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Acknowledging Biological Reality) Bill 2024 at the first reading stage before it could even get on to the floor of the Senate."
"The motion was defeated 32–25, with Labor and the Greens voting against it, while the Liberal Party supported the motion alongside One Nation."
"The bill seeks to remove 'gender identity' from the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and replace it with definitions of 'man' and 'woman' based on biological sex at birth."
"Greens Senator Nick McKim sought leave to make a one-minute statement after the vote, but leave was not granted. Labor and the Greens otherwise did not speak on the motion."
"Liberal Senator Alex Antic questioned why Labor and the Greens were unwilling to debate the motion, describing it as staggering that the two parties had voted together to defeat Hanson's attempt to restore her bill to the Notice Paper."
Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
Title: Re: Labor, Green cowards block Hanson Bill on biological gender identity
Post by: Petunia on July 02, 2026, 10:46:06 PM
Post by: Petunia on July 02, 2026, 10:46:06 PM
Thanks Sarah,
Sadly this isn't the last we will hear of this.
PHON party has been courting Trump to work out how they can import his politics hear and I guess this is the start of it
Sadly this isn't the last we will hear of this.
PHON party has been courting Trump to work out how they can import his politics hear and I guess this is the start of it
Title: Re: Labor, Green cowards block Hanson Bill on biological gender identity
Post by: Allie Jayne on July 02, 2026, 11:35:11 PM
Post by: Allie Jayne on July 02, 2026, 11:35:11 PM
Thanks for reporting this Sarah, for clarity, the Cairns News is a right wing publication and is why they have called Labor and the Greens cowards. They were hoping the bill would get past the first reading and allow them to debate it in the Senate. This would give them the opportunity to push anti trans rhetoric, and maybe get a 'gotcha' like they claim with the Senator Cash / Dr Anna Cody (Sex Discrimination Commissioner) incident.
The conservative case rests on conflating sex and gender, and unfortunately, we have never had a decent spokesperson to represent us. I have contacted my local MP's (State and Federal) to push for meetings with their Equality Ministers to ensure they understand the differences and are equipped with the information to adequately argue for us. I would strongly encourage all trans Aussies to do the same. Perhaps we should have a discussion here to refine points for arguments as misunderstandings from our community can be our worst enemy!
The One Nation and Liberal Bills have been stopped, but I think the Nationals still have a bill on the table. At 32 / 25 voting, they will be encouraged to do some work to lift their numbers, so this isn't over!
Hugs,
Allie
The conservative case rests on conflating sex and gender, and unfortunately, we have never had a decent spokesperson to represent us. I have contacted my local MP's (State and Federal) to push for meetings with their Equality Ministers to ensure they understand the differences and are equipped with the information to adequately argue for us. I would strongly encourage all trans Aussies to do the same. Perhaps we should have a discussion here to refine points for arguments as misunderstandings from our community can be our worst enemy!
The One Nation and Liberal Bills have been stopped, but I think the Nationals still have a bill on the table. At 32 / 25 voting, they will be encouraged to do some work to lift their numbers, so this isn't over!
Hugs,
Allie
Title: Re: Labor, Green cowards block Hanson Bill on biological gender identity
Post by: Petunia on July 03, 2026, 01:56:16 AM
Post by: Petunia on July 03, 2026, 01:56:16 AM
You're right Allie.
Something needs to be co-ordinated and the minimum is to keep it out of parliament while the numbers are favourable.
Something needs to be co-ordinated and the minimum is to keep it out of parliament while the numbers are favourable.
Title: Re: Labor, Green cowards block Hanson Bill on biological gender identity
Post by: Allie Jayne on July 03, 2026, 04:53:51 AM
Post by: Allie Jayne on July 03, 2026, 04:53:51 AM
I spend a lot of time engaging with anti trans people on social media, not so I can change their minds, but to find out what their arguments are.
When engaging with conservatives we need to be concise and rebuke their misinformed rhetoric. I will confine this to Women and Females as that is the target of most rhetoric.
'What is a Woman', this is their favourite 'Gotcha' question, as few can answer concisely because it is not so simple! It is defined as 'an adult female, or social role typically of females'. Woman is a Gender term describing a social role. It varies by culture and among individuals. Trans Women (2 words) typically live that role.
'Female' is a sex term, typically referring to reproductive aspects. The common claim is that there are only XX and XY, but we know there are many more with X, 47XXY, 47XYY,45X, and XXX, plus variations of the SRY gene and body receptors. The important thing is to make it clear that Sex and Gender are completely different things! When they are conflated, it creates confusion which is what transphobes want. It is critical not to let this happen.
'Trans is a Mental Illness', is a very common claim, but easily refuted by saying the proper medical term is Gender Incongruent, and all of the world authorities like the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organisation agree the Gender incongruence is a medical condition within the range of normal human experiences. They will argue that Gender Dysphoria is listed in the DSM, but point out that the DSM makes it clear that Gender Dysphoria is not a disorder, but is mentioned to facilitate treatments.
They might claim we want to pretend to be women to get some advantage or to access women's spaces, and to answer this we need to stress that being Gender Incongruent is not a want, but a need to affirm our sense of gender. Never use the word 'Identify', as it plays into the transphobe argument that we are imagining things. Point out this is something we are born with and can't change.
A common argument is that 'you can't change sex and become a woman'. This is basically incorrect as it conflates sex and gender, but we need to agree that sex as expressed by chromosomes can't be changed. We can, however, change our social role to being a woman. Call out every time someone conflates sex and gender!
When I am educating politicians, I make an effort to clearly define sex and gender, then I show them the science which indicates Trans people studied exhibit brain structures more typical of their sensed social role. I point out for most trans people, their health depends on affirming their sensed gender. This often means losing loved ones, careers, marriages, homes and large sums of money, not to mention the surgeries and pain of other procedures. This is to reinforce that Gender Affirmation is not a want, but a serious need.
I point out that right wingers operate on flawed knowledge with conflating sex and gender, and that their claims are in contrast to the world's health authorities. I also suggest that the right are not stupid, and intentionally lie to dog whistle transphobes.
Hugs,
Allie
When engaging with conservatives we need to be concise and rebuke their misinformed rhetoric. I will confine this to Women and Females as that is the target of most rhetoric.
'What is a Woman', this is their favourite 'Gotcha' question, as few can answer concisely because it is not so simple! It is defined as 'an adult female, or social role typically of females'. Woman is a Gender term describing a social role. It varies by culture and among individuals. Trans Women (2 words) typically live that role.
'Female' is a sex term, typically referring to reproductive aspects. The common claim is that there are only XX and XY, but we know there are many more with X, 47XXY, 47XYY,45X, and XXX, plus variations of the SRY gene and body receptors. The important thing is to make it clear that Sex and Gender are completely different things! When they are conflated, it creates confusion which is what transphobes want. It is critical not to let this happen.
'Trans is a Mental Illness', is a very common claim, but easily refuted by saying the proper medical term is Gender Incongruent, and all of the world authorities like the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organisation agree the Gender incongruence is a medical condition within the range of normal human experiences. They will argue that Gender Dysphoria is listed in the DSM, but point out that the DSM makes it clear that Gender Dysphoria is not a disorder, but is mentioned to facilitate treatments.
They might claim we want to pretend to be women to get some advantage or to access women's spaces, and to answer this we need to stress that being Gender Incongruent is not a want, but a need to affirm our sense of gender. Never use the word 'Identify', as it plays into the transphobe argument that we are imagining things. Point out this is something we are born with and can't change.
A common argument is that 'you can't change sex and become a woman'. This is basically incorrect as it conflates sex and gender, but we need to agree that sex as expressed by chromosomes can't be changed. We can, however, change our social role to being a woman. Call out every time someone conflates sex and gender!
When I am educating politicians, I make an effort to clearly define sex and gender, then I show them the science which indicates Trans people studied exhibit brain structures more typical of their sensed social role. I point out for most trans people, their health depends on affirming their sensed gender. This often means losing loved ones, careers, marriages, homes and large sums of money, not to mention the surgeries and pain of other procedures. This is to reinforce that Gender Affirmation is not a want, but a serious need.
I point out that right wingers operate on flawed knowledge with conflating sex and gender, and that their claims are in contrast to the world's health authorities. I also suggest that the right are not stupid, and intentionally lie to dog whistle transphobes.
Hugs,
Allie
Title: Re: Labor, Green cowards block Hanson Bill on biological gender identity
Post by: Petunia on July 03, 2026, 02:14:00 PM
Post by: Petunia on July 03, 2026, 02:14:00 PM
Quote from: Allie Jayne on Today at 04:53:51 AMI also suggest that the right are not stupid, and intentionally lie to dog whistle transphobes.
Hugs,
Allie
This is the essence of all the right wing propoganda.
Pick a topic, divide the people with a pseudo argument based around " it's not me and I don't understand it" the create phobia and dog whistle as loud as possible.