Part 4/7:
A critical development in Australia’s legislative landscape took place in the Senate, where debate over restoring biological definitions within the Sex Discrimination Act was blocked. Labor and the Greens—major political parties—prevented this vital discussion from proceeding. The Minister for Women, Katie Gallagher, justified this decision by claiming the bill could cause "individual harm" to young people and criticized the debate as potentially harmful:
"We do not agree with the Senate being a place where individual harm can be done to young people across this country."
This stance has drawn criticism from opponents who see it as dismissive of women and girls’ rights, and an abdication of responsibility to protect their safety and fairness in spaces like sports and shared facilities.