Family First Victorian Leader Moira Deeming MP has pledged to push for legislation banning biological males from competing in girls’ and women’s sport in Victoria if she is re-elected at the November state election.
Mrs Deeming said reports this week that a transgender athlete who previously competed in elite men’s hockey had won a women’s best and fairest award in a Victorian hockey competition demonstrated why Parliament needed to act.
According to News24, the player scored 27 goals during the regular season and another five during the finals before winning the competition’s best and fairest award with 33 votes.
The competition reportedly includes girls as young as 14.
“This happened here in Victoria, on our watch, and it shows exactly why women and girls need clear protection in law,” Mrs Deeming said.
“A biological male who previously competed in elite men’s hockey has been allowed to compete against females, dominate the goal scoring and take out the women’s best and fairest award.
“Meanwhile, girls as young as 14 are competing in the same competition.
“How is that fair to the women and girls who train hard, turn up every week and deserve the opportunity to compete on a level playing field?
“If I am re-elected in November, I will push for legislation to ensure that sporting categories designated for girls and women are reserved for biological females.
“Female sport must mean female sport.”
Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act 2010 currently prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and gender identity in sport but provides exceptions in some circumstances, including competitive activities where strength, stamina or physique are relevant.
Mrs Deeming said the present arrangements were not providing the certainty women, parents, clubs and sporting administrators deserved.
“No sporting club should have to navigate complicated discrimination law simply to maintain a women’s competition for women.
“Parliament should make the law clear.
“This is not about stopping anyone from playing sport. Mixed and open competitions can accommodate people who do not qualify for female categories.
“But women and girls have a right to their own sporting competitions.
“Every time a biological male takes a place in a women’s team, wins a women’s award or breaks a women’s record, a female athlete potentially misses out.
“Victorian women should not have to watch female sport become meaningless before their Parliament finally acts.
“If the people of Western Metropolitan Region return me to Parliament in November, I will fight for legislation that restores a simple principle: girls’ sport is for girls and women’s sport is for women.”
