Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan entered an emotional debate after being asked about reports that children are socially transitioning without parental permission.
“I do get emotional about this matter, because it’s deeply important. We should all think about how these kids struggle, and I’ve talked to some of the families too,” Allan told reporters.
Allan said people should approach these discussions in a way that does not put “reckless misinformation” into the public debate that causes harm.
“It is a responsibility on all of us. Those who stand behind the microphone and answer the questions and those who ask the questions to ensure that in raising these matters ... that they are done so in a respectful way, in an accurate way that does not bring greater harm to people in our community,” she said.
“And on this matter particularly, this is particularly important that we come to these discussions in a responsible way, because we know that transgender kids are 15 times more likely to commit suicide.”
However, Parents of Adolescents with Gender Distress (PAGD) Victoria claimed Allan was repeating “false statistics” around suicide rates for those experiencing gender distress.
“PAGD parents are frustrated that Jacinta Allan has again repeated this alarming suggestion of a 15 times higher rate of suicide amongst transgender children,” PAGD said.
“Neither Jacinta Allan nor [Education Minister] Ben Carroll have responded to repeated requests to meet with PAGD Victoria to discuss their concerns and their lived experience.”
Allan said she wants all kids to have the opportunity to learn and grow, be safe, have access to a good quality education, and be strong, proud participants in the community.
She said she had talked to families and understood what goes on in the Respectful Relationships programs in Victorian schools, adding, “It’s about making a difference and supporting them.”
“I do, I get very angry ... I get very, very angry when kids are put at greater risk because of reckless, dangerous commentary.
Deeming Describes Situation as ‘Disgraceful’
The Victorian government is allegedly granting students “mature minor” status for social transition at school and referrals to third-party health providers who can then facilitate gender affirmation, according to Liberal Victorian MLC Moira Deeming.Deeming, who was a teacher for over a decade, raised concerns about girls being forced to have boys in their change rooms and sleeping with them in their rooms at camps.
“And so at parent teacher interviews, I would be sitting there with a child who during the day, I was addressing by a different name, using different pronouns for, was wearing a completely different uniform, was forcing other people to do the same, and yet when the parents are sitting in front of me I’m expected to lie as a teacher and pretend none of that is happening.
“I will never lie to parents and I think it’s absolutely disgraceful that this government has allowed ordinary parents, who have not been proven in a court of law to be unfit parents, to be lied to about something so significant, about their own children.”
Deeming said if the government supports this policy, it should clearly document who authorised it and on what basis, so there is a clear paper trail for accountability if anything goes wrong.
“I don’t believe that they have good intentions ... this government is anti-parental rights,” she said.
