Tuesday, 10 September 2024

Warrandyte electorate

Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (14:47): (808) My question as to the Minister for Equality. How many of my constituents were surveyed prior to the rollout of the rainbow library toolkit in Victoria? Many parents in my community have contacted me with their concerns, saying that when they use library services they do not appreciate topics of sex and gender being discussed with their children without invitation. Their stance is that public libraries should not be a place for activism and that it is inappropriate to require taxpayer-funded government staff to approach little children to ask about their gender without parental consent or permission. Yet the rainbow toolkit assumes that every family is ready and willing to talk about these questions, with children as young as five being asked about their pronouns at the door. In a multicultural state like Victoria it is neither culturally sensitive nor appropriate to deprive parents of their right to approach sensitive topics like sex and gender with their children in the way they deem fit according to their culture, values and background.