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

My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. I note that this is Women's Health Week, and I have noted a number of Labor senators mentioning this important occasion while talking about the government's work to promote women's health. I also note that women's health, safety, privacy and basic rights are being eroded in Australian courts thanks to the Gillard Labor government's change to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, which removed the definitions of women and men. Minister, what measures is the government taking to ensure women's health, safety, privacy and basic rights are being protected from trans activism?

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

I thank Senator Hanson for the question and for acknowledging the work that the Albanese Labor government has been doing in all of the areas that she's outlined: in women's health, in women's safety, in access to skills and training and in economic independence. That is the approach that we've been bringing to it.

In relation to the questions that Senator Hanson has raised, our job here is to make sure that, in health, in women's safety, in economic security, in good pay for jobs, in being able to work extra hours and in investing in early childhood education and care, those policies support everybody and support the whole economy. Gender inequality has been a feature of our country and a feature of our economy for too long. It's not about one person getting a set of rights above another person; it's about addressing areas of inequality and driving broader equality across the economy so that everyone benefits, and that is what we've seen from—

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

Senator Hanson?

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

My point of order goes to the basics of my question. I asked about safety, privacy and basic rights. The minister has not touched on that in any way whatsoever, and I didn't mention anything about what they're doing.

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

Thank you, Senator Hanson. The minister is being relevant to your question. Minister, please continue.

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

Well, I certainly heard Senator Hanson outlining a few of the areas that we have been working on, and we have been working on it. We do think that areas of women's health have been left unaddressed for too long. To not list a modern contraceptive pill for the last 20-odd years or new menopause treatments for the last 30 years is a problem, and it does need a government that's prepared to invest in it.

In relation to the question you have around the Sex Discrimination Act, which was in your first question, the Sex Discrimination Act makes it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of a range of protected attributes, including sex and gender identity. The government is not proposing to change that. (Time expired)

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

Senator Hanson, first supplementary?

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

Women's health and safety are particularly at risk from the intrusion of biological males in women's sport, and this has been acknowledged by the new President of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, in her push for a blanket ban on transgender women from female categories at the Olympics. Does the government support a ban on transgender athletes competing in female categories at future Olympics?

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

I thank Senator Hanson for that question, and I respond in the same way I've responded as she's raised this a number of times over the years where she's sought to demonise transgender people across this country: that is a matter that the sports organisations deal with. They deal with it appropriately, as the experts in that area. The issues you raise in my area of women's policy have not been raised with me as Minister for Women by any of the range of stakeholders I deal with on a day-to-day basis on addressing women's policy and driving gender equality. That's the position this government takes, it's the position we've taken when you've asked me before, and it'll be the position that we take in the future.

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

Senator Hanson, second supplementary?

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

Today One Nation senators proudly signed a pledge to protect women's rights in Australia at the request of Women Speak Tasmania. Minister, will the government acknowledge that the Gillard government's change to the Sex Discrimination Act is threatening Australian women's access to female-only spaces and female-only sports and directly impacting the health and wellbeing of Australian women?

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

Thank you, Senator Hanson. In terms of issues that have been raised with me, I'm not sure if that organisation you have spoken to has raised them with me. I don't recall that they have. We don't have any plans to change the Sex Discrimination Act. We believe in equality for all. We believe in respect and treating people respectfully, whatever their gender identity may be. That is something that I think those opposite used to support as well, although I'm not sure that they have continued with that position. That's the approach that I bring to women's policy. I'm about driving gender equality. I want every individual across this country to be treated equally regardless of the way that they identify. That is what I want, and that is what this government is focused on, whether it be in health, in education, in women's safety or in fighting against domestic and family violence. All of those areas are the focus, and that's how it will remain.