Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I, too, rise to speak on this motion moved by Senator Hanson today. We should all be clear on what this motion is and what it isn't. It's not about protecting children and families. It's not about protecting trans kids. It's not about protecting trans families. It's not about prioritising the lives of vulnerable young people. It's actually about throwing vulnerable children onto the national stage to be judged—to have their lives and identities picked over—for political gain. If we really want to protect our trans young people and trans families, then we really need to stand with them today—to stand with kids who just want to be loved and accepted for exactly who they are. I want to thank the trans activists who fought for so many years for respect and for a voice, who worked tirelessly, in the face of incredible opposition, to save lives and who are the real heroes protecting vulnerable young people.

My message to the trans community today is that we hear you in this place and we stand with you in this place, today and every day—and especially today, because, on Saturday, in Victoria, a group of anti-trans activists gathered to spread hate and, on the steps of Victoria's parliament, some of them performed a Nazi salute. It should not have to be said, but there is no place for this hateful and evil ideology in our country—not anywhere: not on the steps of the Victorian parliament and not in this parliament, either.

This is an opportunity for everyone in this place to stand together and condemn these views outright. This is an opportunity for the coalition to stand up against these views—views that deliberately target a vulnerable minority of people. This is an opportunity for the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Dutton, to call this behaviour out, loud and clear. Mr Dutton needs to call out the bigotry. He needs to call out the hate; he needs to call out the horrendous display in Melbourne on the weekend; he needs to call out anyone who holds and endorses these views, because we all have a responsibility to condemn this appalling behaviour and stand with the trans community today.

We are meant to be leaders in this place, and we know that extremists are emboldened by the words and by the views of politicians. And we all know how dangerous it is to not call out extremist views. We know how dangerous it is to not call out the hateful views that were on display in Victoria over the weekend. We know that almost half of transgender and gender-diverse young people have attempted suicide in their lifetime—almost half—because hate hurts and hate kills. We know that access to gender-affirming surgery, on the other hand, can be lifesaving. We know that love and support of trans young people is lifesaving. There is absolutely no excuse for spouting hate that puts young people's lives at risk. There is no excuse for endorsing or keeping silent when we see scenes like those on Saturday. Silence is just as bad. That is why it is so important today, and every day, that in this place we call out these views—this extremist hate. Every member of this parliament should be calling this out. Again, Mr Dutton needs to call it out. Most importantly, what Mr Dutton needs to do is stand publicly with the trans community, who are under attack right now.

Let me be clear on this. I stand with this trans community today. Trans rights are human rights. These rights should never be negotiable. I want to give particular acknowledgement today to members of the Victorian trans community, Austin, Sally, Tiff, Laura and Ricki, who I met with recently. You are actually the people who are doing the real work of protecting trans kids. You are the people providing an example to all of embracing who you are. You are the people who are providing the love, support and acceptance that our trans young people need. Thank you for everything you do to keep trans kids safe in our community.