NSW Labor MLC Greg Donnelly has again spoken in Parliament about the unfair reality of allowing males to compete in female sporting competitions

Last week he rose for the third time to address the issue on behalf of female athletes in the state.

Mr President, On 30th March 2022, 19th June this year and tonight, I am raising again with the House for what is the third time, the need for this Parliament and all legislatures across Australia to pass explicit laws to protect females from having to compete in sporting competitions – one-on-one and team – against males who identify as females or call themselves females.

Examples abound in NSW of females being put to the sword in sporting competitions by being not just nudged but pressed, in some cases I would say virtually pushed, into going head-to-head with males. 

The Labor politician addressed the issue of women being bullied on and off the field to the distress of female athletes and their supporters. He lay the blame squarely at the feet of fellow parliamentary colleagues. 

As I look across NSW and the country, I see nothing being done by those with the power and authority to address this matter that is crying out not just for attention, but concrete actions to address this manifestly unfair and dangerous situation. Irrespective of the political parties in power, and no doubt I will get a kick in the pants from members of my own party, I detect virtually zero interest let alone political will to stare this matter in the face and deal with it. 

In fact, and this statement I expect will lead to me being struck-off some Christmas card lists this year, there is clearly a unity ticket of wilful blindness operating between government and opposition parties in the nine Australian jurisdictions,  to remain uninformed about what is actually happening every day, particularly on weekends with respect to female-only sporting competitions involving male competitors; such individuals claiming publicly that they have the legal right to do so, not because they identify as a female but because they are a female! 

Donnelly spoke harshly about the Flying Bats women’s soccer team that has included five males identifying as women. He went into great detail about their exploits and how they have robbed women of success and prize money along the way.

He was scathing in his assessment of Football Australia who he claims have had their “arms folded deliberately looking the other way as the women were thrown by North West Sydney Football under the proverbial bus”.

His compassion for the women and his desire for a righteous outcome were evident as he closed his speech with these words.

Think for a moment regarding the all-female-player teams and individual players that lost prize money, lost trophies, lost sponsorship opportunities, lost enjoyment and satisfaction that competitive sports provide, experienced humiliation and suffered injuries. 

How this is permitted to happen in plain sight for all to see, with no response or corrective action, is a damning indictment on North West Sydney Football and Football Australia. It is unfair, unreasonable and dangerous. It must be stopped and if they will not do it, governments must step-in and bring this farse to an immediate end.

It is time other politicians took note and did the right thing as Mr Donnelley has articulated.