Transgender children have become the latest targets of a scare campaign delivered to Indi’s letterboxes.
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While Labor promised $6 million over three years from 2017-18 to continue the Safe Schools program, conservatives were calling the program “extreme sex education”.
A variation of a flier delivered around the state encouraged voters to “put Labor, (Cathy) McGowan and Greens last” because they supported the program which “sexualises and confuses Aussie kids”.
Wodonga transgender woman Rachel Richardson, who struggled with her own identity growing up as a boy at school, criticised the campaign for vilifying a tiny group of vulnerable children.
“It’s purely trying to stir up fear,” she said.
“I think the person who wrote this pamphlet needs a good dose of compassion.
It’s a sad grab for votes.
- Rachel Richardson
Safe Schools was a major policy difference between the two major major parties.
The Coalition planned to cut funding from 2017, while Labor claimed it would address issues of bullying and mental health among LGBTIQ youths.
Wodonga Middle Years and Senior Secondary colleges, Wangaratta High School and Benalla P-12 College all support the initiative.
Dr Richardson told The Border Mail it was misleading to suggest anything sexual about a boy transitioning into a girl wanting to use the girls’ toilets.
“The biggest problem that a child faces is negotiating a place like a boy’s toilet because it is quite a scary place,” she said.
“(Safe Schools) is trying to help people who are the victims of intimidation, they are the victims of bullying.”
Women’s Health Goulburn North East executive officer Susie Reid was also critical of the fliers.
“During election campaigns, there is lots of scaremongering,” she said. “All I have to say on the issue is that I don’t believe teaching empathy is a bad thing.”
Indi MP Cathy McGowan did not respond to questions about Safe Schools, Nationals’ candidate Marty Corboy, at a Wangaratta election forum last week, said he had “issues” with it.
Liberal candidate Sophie Mirabella did not return calls.
In response to an advertisement claiming she was “pro abortion”, Ms McGowan said laws were governed by the states.
“Medicare procedures are determined by an independent tribunal,” she said.
“Abortion is an important issue and if people need to discuss it, this should be done with their GP.”
