The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the University of Tasmania (UTAS) are “locked in a battle” after UTAS declined to comply with the union’s request to provide up to 30 days’ leave for transgender staff.
Amy Sargent, National Convenor of the Queers Unionist in Tertiary Education (QUTE), a network of members of the NTEU advocating for the LGBTIQ+ community expressed that the “Gender Affirmation Leave will save the lives of tertiary education workers.”
Sargeant said that 10 days is not enough for staff, and called for a greater amount of leave given which “must be renewed each year so staff are afforded the security to seek assistance.”
“The consequences can be too difficult to bear for many, deprived of income during a highly traumatic time in their lives of which they have no control over,” Sargent said.
“Management at the University of Tasmania needs to listen to not only the union but those who have supported our petition and accept our requests,” Sargeant said.
However, despite increasing workplaces implementing gender affirmation leaves as part of staff benefits, advocates for the recognition of biological sex have “commended” the university’s stance against the 30 days of gender-transitioning leave.
“I’m surprised the union saw it as fair and equitable to single out transgender people as more deserving than other staff.
The discussions come amidst an election season where transgender rights have become a key election issue.
Liberal candidate for the seat of Warringah, Katherine Deves and biological-sex campaigner has spoken out against transgender women competing in female sports.
However, her statements faced a significant backlash after her previous comments on social media platforms surfaced, such as calling Wear it Purple Day—an annual LGBTQIA+ day for young people—a “grooming tactic” that pushed for “extreme body modification.”
In one of her deleted tweets in May 2021, Deves wrote: “They will not stand for seeing vulnerable children surgically mutilated and sterilised,” and attached a photo of a teenager who had undergone top surgery.
“My opponents, parts of the left media and Twittersphere have been unrelenting in calling for me to be disendorsed, because of past statements,” her email wrote.
“I have been bullied in the most vile way and received death threats. I’m not going anywhere, as the Prime Minister said yesterday.”