Concerns Over Gender Treatments and Rights
Family First has called for the abolition of the Australian Human Rights Commission, criticising it as a taxpayer-funded activist body. National Director Lyle Shelton made the announcement on 1st May, citing concerns over its stance on gender treatments and sex-based rights.
Shelton highlighted recent controversies regarding the Commission’s support for gender treatments for minors. He referenced concerns from parents and women’s advocates about the impact of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones on children.
“Parents of vulnerable children are pleading with the Commission to reconsider its position on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, treatments linked to infertility, impaired sexual function, and long-term health risks,” said Shelton.
Criticism of Commission’s Leadership
Shelton accused the Commission of ignoring the concerns of Parents of Adolescents with Gender Distress (PAGD). He claimed its advocacy lacked an adequate evidence base. He cited the Cass Review, which questioned the quality of evidence supporting youth gender medicine.
“Children have a fundamental human right to be protected from experimental medical treatments,” he stated. This action, he argued, amounted to negligence rather than compassion.
Shelton also criticised the Commission for its legal interventions concerning women’s sex-based rights. He accused it of prioritising gender identity over biological sex and undermining the privacy and safety of women and girls.
“When women raise legitimate concerns about single-sex spaces, they are dismissed or accused of denying someone’s existence,” he said, labeling the Commission’s actions as ideological activism.
The Commission has repeatedly taken positions that elevate gender identity over biological sex, Shelton alleged. He believes this undermines the privacy, safety, and dignity of women and girls.
Shelton argued that the Commission’s refusal to acknowledge the inherent tension between sex-based rights and gender identity claims demonstrated it was no longer capable of acting as an impartial arbiter.
He pointed to findings from the Cass Review, which questioned the quality of evidence supporting youth gender medicine. Parents have called for more cautious, non-medical approaches.
“A body that cannot recognise real conflicts of rights, and instead shuts down debate, has forfeited its credibility,” Shelton said.
Family First plans to advocate for the abolition of state-based human rights and equal opportunity commissions. This issue is set to be a key focus for candidates in the upcoming NSW and Victorian elections.
