The Legislative Council of the South Australian Parliament is set to debate a bill put forward by the One Nation party that would ban the use of puberty blockers in the treatment of gender dysphoria.
Outside Parliament, a rally organised by the Australian Christian Lobby was staged, prompting community group SA Rainbow Advocacy Alliance to issue a warning to transgender community members to stay clear of the area. The group also shared support resources for community members affected by the debate.
CEO Varo Lee told InDaily that the discussion surrounding transgender people’s lives was disappointing.
“This is an incredibly vulnerable cohort who have been subject to significant mistreatment, discrimination and hate in South Australia for years now. Seeing messages and signs from people who do not fundamentally believe you should exist is really damaging to our communities,” Lee said.
One Nation leader Cory Bernardi responded to concerns about the mental health impacts on transgender community members by saying: “Toughen up, buttercup”.
“So someone’s got a different opinion, and you think that’s going to be harmful to you. Well, welcome to the world of politics,” he said.
Bernardi was recently suspended from social media platform Facebook after posting a video in which he confronted teenagers who attended a protest against his party. In the video, he allegedly directed an anti-transgender slur at the young people.
Lee said the approach being taken by One Nation, which seeks to criminalise treatment involving puberty-blocking medication, demonstrates a misunderstanding of how treatment pathways operate.
“To use the criminal law to threaten health practitioners for providing what many medical professionals describe as lifesaving and life-changing care, and care that is supported by major Australian medical bodies, is pretty appalling,” Lee said.
Bernardi has said his Health Practitioner National Law (South Australia) (Childhood Gender Dysphoria) Amendment Bill is designed to protect people under the age of 18 because, he argues, they cannot make such decisions independently. Restrictions on the use of puberty blockers have previously been introduced in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
It has been suggested that the bill may receive support from Family First member Sarah Game, who was previously a One Nation member before switching parties. Liberal member Ben Hood has also indicated he will support the bill. Liberal MPs have been granted a conscience vote on the issue.
Greens leader Robert Simms has voiced his opposition to the proposed legislation, describing it as “disgusting that a health issue is being weaponised in this way”.
“Like many people in our community, I was appalled to see Cory Bernardi on the steps of Parliament a few weeks ago filming young people and ridiculing them on social media. I can understand why people would feel concerned about going near the steps of Parliament at this time.
“It’s a really sad indictment of our politics that people are being made to feel unsafe. Everyone should feel safe and included in our community, and safe and welcome at our Parliament House,” Simms said.
In 2025, the state’s Gender Service at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital launched an investigation after it was revealed that 22 patients had been reviewed by a senior mental health clinician but had not been seen by a psychiatrist, in line with the state’s guidelines for the care of people with gender dysphoria.
Women’s and Children’s Health Network chief executive Rebecca Graham apologised for the shortcomings, while noting that no adverse effects had been identified in the treatment of the cohort.
Parents have raised concerns about lengthy waiting lists for young people experiencing gender dysphoria, arguing that the health system is not meeting their needs.
Do you need some support
If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:
QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.
DISCHARGED: info@discharged.asn.au / discharged.asn.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.
Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au
Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au
