Alex Antic (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Canavan, move:

That the following bill be introduced:

A Bill for an Act to amend the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, and for related purposes.

Question agreed to.

I present the bill and move:

That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time.

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While the Senate has the opportunity to reject a bill at the first reading stage, in practice, the first reading is almost always passed without opposition and is regarded as a purely formal stage. The coalition support these normal procedures as we have with many Greens, Labor or crossbench bills that we strongly opposed. The normal process enables bills to be fairly considered and debated by the Senate before a substantive decision is taken. It should only be deviated from in the most extreme of circumstances, lest we deny the right of senators to even have matters debated. As in all cases, a vote on the first reading should not be taken as a position on the substantive legislation, especially where a bill has not had the opportunity to be the subject of normal internal processes.

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

I seek leave to make a one-minute statement.

Leave granted.

I thank the Senate. We know exactly what Senators Antic and Canavan are up to here. They are introducing a bill that they want to use to provide a platform for transphobic people in our community to punch down on transgender Australians and, in particular, on trans kids. That's what's going on here—they are trying to provide a platform, using parliamentary privilege, to punch down on some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Well, as far as the Australian Greens are concerned, we are never, never going to vote in this place to allow you to create that platform. Trans rights are human rights! Trans people and trans kids deserve our love and support. They deserve us to stand up and defend their right to exist, and the Australian Greens will always do that.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand the arguments that Senator Scarr has put and agree that it is normal custom and practice in this place to allow for bills to be introduced. However, in the last term the government did take a stand on another similar bill. We took the position that we were dealing with it at the first reading stage because of the harm that could be caused by creating a platform for parliamentary debate over it and its impact on individuals—particularly young Australians. That is the position we took in the last parliament. It is the position we are taking now. We do not agree with the Senate being a place where individual harm can be done to young people across this country. That is what would have happened had we allowed this bill to proceed in the normal course, and we won't stand for it. Trans children deserve better from this chamber.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What we're seeing here is an example of control, and, always, beneath control there is fear. Of what are the Greens and their coalition partner, Labor, afraid?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that general business notion of motion No. 68 standing in the name of Senators Antic and Canavan be agreed to.