Page 1376 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 12 May 2021
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(3) calls on the:
(a) ACT Government to continue its work supporting trans and gender diverse students within our education system;
(b) ACT Assembly to write to the chair of NSW Parliamentary Portfolio Committee No 3 – Education, Mark Latham MLC, consistent with the terms of this motion;
(c) ACT Minister for Education and Youth Affairs to write to her counterpart in the NSW Government expressing our concern about the effect of the bill debate on trans and diverse children in the ACT and urge the NSW Government to vote down the bill; and
(b) ACT Assembly to condemn those that support transphobia.
Today I rise to speak about the importance of protecting our young people and ensuring that our education system is as inclusive and welcoming as possible. Trans and gender diverse kids face discrimination day in, day out. We, as leaders and lawmakers, need to do our best to ensure that these kids are safe, happy and included, especially within our education system.
The bill being moved by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation in the New South Wales parliament achieves nothing by isolating these students further and denying them the support that they deserve, and sends a terrible message to trans and gender diverse students in ACT schools, many of whom live in New South Wales.
I am proud of what this ACT government has achieved in protecting the rights of our trans and gender diverse students. Since its establishment, the safe and inclusive schools initiative has proved to be a valuable resource in supporting young people that are same-sex attracted, intersex or gender diverse. By advising school staff on inclusion practices, as well as providing individual style support to students, the program has made a positive difference to our young people’s wellbeing. This is exactly the sort of program that vulnerable children and young people need, and I am so very proud that the ACT government is a leader in this area.
I am sure that we all remember that in our last term of government we took the necessary steps to ban the practice of conversion therapy in the ACT. We worked to make sure that kids would be protected from these practices, which can have long-term and life-changing psychological consequences. Whilst those opposite pandered to groups like the Australian Christian Lobby, we took the necessary steps to ensure that any and every child can grow up safe and protected in Canberra.
We also legislated to allow our young people to affirm their gender identity more easily on legal documents. This is often one of the most challenging areas for many trans and gender diverse young people to navigate, and we need to continue ensuring that their voices are heard and listened to. The ACT government must continue its great work supporting trans and gender diverse students in our education system. Whilst we have implemented positive initiatives, there is still more to be done.
The recently released Writing Themselves in 4 ACT report provides some concerning insights as to how young LGBTIQ students feel in our schools. More than half of the
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