Official documents from aph.gov.au and legislation.gov.au, checked 21 October 2026.
What was debated in Parliament
Summarised using AI from the official Hansard transcript of the debate only. It is not a record of the debate and may leave things out. Read the Hansard below to check it.
This bill, from Senators Antic and Canavan, aimed to change the Sex Discrimination Act to remove references to gender identity and return to definitions based on biological sex. The debate was about whether the Senate should even allow the bill to be introduced, and Labor and the Greens voted against its introduction.
Arguments made in support
Senator Antic said the bill would protect women's safety, privacy and opportunities by restoring the Act to its original focus on biological sex.
Senator Antic said the 2013 change adding gender identity had unintended effects and put people under legal threat for disagreeing with it.
Coalition Senator Scarr said bills are normally allowed past first reading so they can be properly debated, and this does not show support for the bill.
Senator Roberts said blocking the bill was an act of control driven by fear.
Arguments made against, or for changes
Greens Senator McKim said the bill would give a platform to people who want to attack transgender Australians, especially trans children.
Government Senator Gallagher said Labor opposed it at first reading, as it had with a similar bill, because debate could harm individuals, especially young people.
Labor and the Greens said trans people and trans children deserve support and protection from this kind of debate.
13 speeches by 6 members in the Senate over 1 sitting day.