Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to associate myself with the words that we just heard from Senator Green, with the very, very minor caveat that, although Equality Australia played an absolutely critical role in the delivery of marriage equality, there were many other advocates who were not involved with Equality Australia who also contributed significantly to that campaign, including many who were campaigning for marriage equality before Equality Australia even existed. The sentiments outlined by Senator Green are exactly sentiments that the Australian Greens would associate themselves with.

I have to say there has basically never been a trans kid in this country that One Nation weren't prepared to sacrifice and throw under the bus in the name of their incessant fighting of culture wars. There has never been a trans kid in this country who One Nation are not prepared to demonise and persecute in the pursuit of their dangerous ideology. I remind people that trans children are some of the most vulnerable people in our country. We need to wrap our arms around them and show them love and support, and I say that as someone who had a trans kid, who is now a fantastic young trans man in my family. I went through Jasper's journey with him, and he knows that I speak about him in this place, and he's very happy for me to do this. I went through that journey with him, and I fought for him and with him and for and with every other trans kid in this country, all the way through, and I will continue to do that. Every time One Nation gets up and tries to throw trans kids under the bus, I'll push back. I know my colleagues in the Australian Greens—every single one of us—will push back, and we will fight for the rights of trans kids to be who they are and to be loved and respected for what they are.

This is not a choice, as is so deliberately miscategorised by people in this debate who are transphobic. This is not a choice; this is a critical fundamental matter of who they are as human beings. Honestly, I can't see why every single senator in this place would not respect the right of people to be who they are and to be embraced and loved and respected for who they are.

What did trans kids ever do to you? What did they do to you to make you go to war with them in such an egregious, foul and despicable way—to bring about such harm to such a vulnerable and marginalised section of our community? What this Senate should do and what all senators should do is show love and respect to trans people in this country and show that we are prepared to support them all the way, as the Australian Greens do.

Progress reported.