There are calls for former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce to resign as a member of parliament after he broke ranks with his coalition colleagues, calling for schools to retain the right to expel students who may are transgender.
Joyce outlined his views during an appearance on Sky News saying he thought it was imperative that religious based schools had the right to reject students who are transgender.
“If I send my child to an all-girls’ school, I don’t want the complication and the possibility, and they haven’t completely ruled it out, that if someone turns up and says, ‘I want to identify was a woman, I want to identify as a girl, I want to go Into your bathrooms, I want to go into your change rooms, I want to be educated’,’’ Joyce said.
“That might be that person’s right and wish, but everybody else says, ‘well that’s an affront on our rights’ and we want that issue deal with. We want it dealt with clearly so that we know that our rights are protected and other people’s rights are respected,” he said.
“You cannot send a student whose genetic makeup is XY … to a school established for people who are XX. It is not fair on the larger school unit that they have to change and accept all because of the desires of one.”
Speaking to The New Daily, author Jo Hirst, who has a transgender son, said Joyce had shown that he had zero compassion for transgender kids, and no understanding of their situation.
Hirst highlighted that when children transition gender it is on the advice of medical professionals and it is important that schools are supportive.
“When we have a federal minister blatantly flouting the recommendations of our health professionals, and publicly shaming and disparaging our vulnerable kids, I think it’s time for our Prime Minister to step in and say enough is enough.” Hirst said. “These children deserve better than this. He should be asked for his resignation.”
Current National party leader Michael McCormick, who replaced Joyce as leader earlier this year, said that he does agree with Joyce’s statement.
On Wednesday Prime Minister Scott Morrison proposed that all MPs should be allowed a conscience vote on the issue. Passing legislation to remove the exemptions from the anti-discrimination laws that currently exist has proven to be a challenging task for the PM who has been unable to put forward legislation that gains the support of the opposiiton.
Joyce has also called for an overturn on the coalition’s rules which stop members of parliament hiring members of their own families to work in their offices. The rules were introduced by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott who was concerned about claims of nepotism. Joyce has labeled the decision a mistake.
“(Your loved one is) probably one of the best persons working for you because she more than anyone understands your diary, understands kids’ birthdays, anniversaries. Understands all the things you’ve got to be a part of if you want to stay married,” Joyce told The Courier Mail in an interview published today.
Joyce said allowing spouses and family members to work in parliamentary offices would protect MPs from the “perverse” elements of the job. Earlier this year it was revealed that the MP had begun a relationship with his media advisor. Joyce left his wife and subsequently began a new family with the staffer.
Joyce says life would be easier for politicians if the government picked up the tab for spouses to travel with MPs and spend more time with them in Canberra.
OIP Staff
