Politics · Australia · 1 hr ago
UN expert criticises Australian commissioner’s stance on breastfeeding protections
Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner said transgender women who induce lactation are covered by breastfeeding discrimination protections.
She gave that answer during a Senate committee hearing on how Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act applies.
The hearing also examined whether employers must provide lactation breaks and facilities, and Commissioner Anna Cody said the same protections apply to anyone breastfeeding.
UN special rapporteur Reem Alsalem called Cody’s position flawed, arguing that it conflates sex and gender identity and overlooks biological sex.
Alsalem said naming sex-based discrimination does not mean accepting or justifying it.
The debate also touched on New South Wales breastfeeding policies, where references to “women” and “mother” were restored after a state government decision to remove them was reversed.
Cody was asked whether that change aligned with the commission’s guidance and took the question on notice.
UN special rapporteur Reem Alsalem criticised Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody’s view that transgender women are covered by breastfeeding discrimination protections.
Cody told a Senate committee that Section 7AA of Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act protects transgender women who breastfeed.
Alsalem called Cody’s position “flawed” and said it conflated sex with gender identity.
The committee also considered whether employers could have to provide lactation breaks and facilities to transgender women who induce lactation.
- Who
- UN special rapporteur Reem Alsalem criticised Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody.
- What
- Alsalem challenged Cody’s view that breastfeeding discrimination protections cover transgender women.
- When
- Cody answered questions at a Senate committee on Monday night; Alsalem commented on Tuesday.
- Where
- Australia. The remarks were made at a Senate committee hearing and on X.
- Why
- Alsalem said Cody’s position conflated sex and gender identity and overlooked the material reality of biological sex.
Reem Alsalem
Anna Cody
Scope of protections
Reem Alsalem
Alsalem criticised Cody’s view as flawed and argued it conflated sex and gender identity.
Anna Cody
Cody said transgender women who breastfeed are covered by the same protections as anyone who is breastfeeding.
Basis for the position
Reem Alsalem
Alsalem said discrimination against women and girls should be named as discrimination based on sex.
Anna Cody
Cody’s stated position was that the protections apply to transgender women who breastfeed.
Anna Cody told a Senate committee that transgender women who breastfeed are covered by protections under Section 7AA.
Reem Alsalem criticised Cody’s position on X.
- Commissioner
- Dr Anna Cody
- UN expert
- Reem Alsalem, special rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls
- Law section
- Section 7AA of Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act
- Senate questioner
- Liberal senator Leah Blyth
- Hearing
- Senate committee hearing on Monday night
What people are saying
Yes, Senator,
The position of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner should not come as a surprise and in fact is the only position that she can take in order to try be consistent and coherent to herself and others given her overarching views and opinions
We must understand that the position she expressed is the only position one can organically arrive at if one conflates sex and gender identity, disregards the material reality of women in favour of women being a feeling or an identity, and disregards that certain reproductive processes are tied to being of a certain sex,