The push by South Australian MPs to hold the nation’s first parliamentary inquiry into the treatment of children with gender dysphoria has been halted in its tracks after the Labor Party refused its MPs a conscience vote on the issue.
The Australian reports: “Several members of the more socially conservative South Australian branch of the ALP were ready to support the motion by independent MLC Frank Pangallo for an inquiry amid a major increase in the number of young people transitioning in SA.”
“Mr. Pangallo’s push for an inquiry was effectively dead when Premier Peter Malinauskas finally showed his hand on the issue, saying he feared that the inquiry could become a vehicle for culture wars arguments,” the newspaper continued.
“I am not too sure if a parliamentary inquiry that would be highly political in nature and that would only seek to perpetuate the culture wars is the best way to do a proper examination of medical policy. These are questions of science in terms of best practice and medicine as distinct from a political forum for people to prosecute the culture wars which I think people know I’m not particularly keen on,” Mr. Malinauskas said.
“The conscience vote is a really precious tool within the parliamentary Labor Party. It is used sparingly. I am not aware of a precedent for a conscience vote for an Upper House select committee,” he added.
Mr. Pangallo labelled the decision a “cop-out'” and claimed it was proof that Labor remained “beholden to the Hard Left” on the issue. “For the Premier to say parliament has no place inquiring into this area is either utterly naive or disingenuous. I suspect the latter,” Mr. Pangallo told The Australian.
“I am bitterly disappointed with the decision by Labor, but not surprised. Sadly, Labor MPs continue to be pressured by its hard-wing Left and the vocal minority of transgender activists and ideologists without looking into a growing body of medical evidence from around the globe which is urging caution and a review of current practices. This inquiry was never going to be a witch hunt. It was about ensuring we were doing the right thing to protect and help vulnerable children. This is about child welfare and Labor has shamefully turned their back on them,” Mr. Pangallo lamented.
National Policy Director for the Australian Christian Lobby Christopher Brohier said: “Shattered parents have personally contacted me expressing their disappointment in this decision. It is imperative that the South Australian government holds an inquiry with independent experts that are not just surrogates for the Department. This is about our children, our young people, receiving the care they deserve.”
It is the third time in a year that an inquiry into the issue has been blocked, with proposals by Pauline Hanson federally, and ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming in Victoria both failing to win parliamentary support.
Kurt Mahlburg wrote in the Daily Declaration: “The greatest flaw in the Premier’s excuse-making is his culture wars cop-out. It is a tried and tested strategy — a perennial favourite of progressive policy makers, especially. But it is in equal parts deflective, deceitful and dastardly. Though the phrase culture wars is recent, the sentiment is not. In the antebellum era, countless cowardly politicians dismissed the topic of slavery as a “controversy” they would rather avoid. All the while, the people they should have been defending suffered.”
“Politicians, pastors and other leaders who use the culture wars cop-out care more about keeping their reputation intact than protecting young people in harm’s way. Just like the Pharisees before them, they outwardly appear righteous to others (Matthews 23:28), but have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). In fact, the culture wars cop-out is actually a double betrayal. It clothes cowardice in virtue, all the while accusing of vice the brave few who are standing up to defend the vulnerable,” Mr. Mahlburg asserted.
Photo: Facebook – Peter Malinauskas
