23 Apr 2022

Coalition MPs urge caution over ‘redundant’ bill to exclude trans women from female sport │ The Guardian

By JOSH BUTLER and PAUL KARP

Several Coalition MPs have questioned Senator Claire Chandler’s controversial bill to restrict trans women playing in female sports, calling for caution as they believe it is “redundant” or needs more work.

It comes as the Australian Christian Lobby said it expected Chandler’s bill would be revisited in the next parliament. Conservative lobby group Advance Australia has also launched a campaign calling for Coalition moderates Trent Zimmerman, Dave Sharma, Andrew Bragg and Warren Entsch – who it described as “numpties” – to be voted out at the election over their criticism of Warringah candidate, Katherine Deves.

Chandler’s legislation, which she called her “save women’s sport” bill, proposes changes to the Sex Discrimination Act to “clarify” that the operation of single-sex sport on the basis of biological sex is not discriminatory. But critics say its aims are already covered by existing laws.

Prime minister, Scott Morrison, has expressed support for the proposal, but later noted it was only a private senator’s bill and not government policy. Deves – who founded the advocacy group Save Women’s Sport Australasia – has claimed credit for helping develop Chandler’s “Save Women’s Sport” bill. Several Coalition senators also backed the bill, but others have voiced reservations.

South Australian senator Andrew McLachlan said he wanted Chandler’s bill to be examined by a parliamentary committee before coming to a debate or vote.

“The private member’s bill proposed by Senator Chandler will be examined by parliamentary committees and these committees will report on the issue and whether legislative intervention is warranted,” he said.

‘Not a debate I want to politicise’

Queensland LNP senator Gerard Rennick said he was concerned about safety issues around trans athletes in female competitions, but did not believe the parliament needed to take action.

“I hate identity politics, we shouldn’t be using it to score points. Not just the Liberals but Labor too,” he said.

Rennick said he wasn’t critical of Chandler, but didn’t support the push.

“We should be able to have this conversation without being labelled a bigot but it’s not a debate I want to politicise,” he said.

NSW senator Andrew Bragg has said existing law “already addresses this issue” and that he was “not aware of any evidence that the law is deficient”. On Friday, he too called for the bill to be examined before progressing.

“Scrutiny of legislation is a key function of the Senate and this non-government bill requires significant scrutiny before it is put to a vote,” he said.

“I expect any Senate inquiry will show the bill is redundant due to the current legal provisions on strength, stamina and physique.”

Other government moderates, who declined to be named, have told Guardian Australia of their significant concern that Morrison was elevating the controversy during the federal election period, noting that Australia’s sporting codes were managing issues of participation effectively.

View source