Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—The government is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of young Australians. We acknowledge that the clinical treatment of children experiencing gender dysphoria is a complex and evolving area, and that more research is needed.

In Australia, state and territory health departments are the system managers of their public hospital and health services, and have primary administrative and clinical responsibility and control of the relevant services. It's important that the states and territories work to develop a nationally consistent, evidence based approach to best-practice treatment and clinical care, with appropriate safeguards. We encourage them to immediately prioritise this critical work.

Also, this motion touches on complex issues that could be a matter of conscience, and therefore coalition senators will be voting in accordance with their consciences.