Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

All Australians deserve access to the health care that they need, including children, young people and their families. And it is important that each child and family, including transgender and gender diverse children, have access to the care and support that they need for the best possible health outcome now and in the future. Many of the matters contained in these proposed terms of reference are a matter for state and territory governments. The governance of hospitals is a prime example. Additionally, many of the matters contained in these proposed terms of reference question the expertise of clinicians who in treating their patients utilise their clinical judgement to provide appropriate support and care.

But I think we can see, from the comments made just now, that this motion is not about ensuring appropriate support and care. It is instead about establishing a platform that will inevitably be used by people with extreme views who would do harm to a vulnerable patient group, their families and their loved ones. These children need care and support, not a parliamentary inquiry. This view is shared by the community as well as medical experts in this field. As was noted back in November in response to a similar motion, advice has been received from the royal Australian college of physicians which said that a national inquiry 'would not increase the scientific evidence available regarding gender dysphoria but would further harm vulnerable patients and their families'.

We are talking about a population that experiences very high levels of suicidality; up to one in two have attempted suicide. The politicisation of their health care is not beneficial to anyone. The Senate dealt with the matter of an inquiry on this topic in November last year and again in March of this year as an MPI. It is clear that the Senate does not support an inquiry. The government will oppose this motion, and I urge the Senate to reject it.