Prime Minister Scott Morrison attacked Cricket Australia as he believes the organization has taken too harsh a line in its new transgender policy. He said Cricket Australia had taken a “sledgehammer” and “heavy-handed” approach.
According to the changes in the organization, it allows people to compete with whatever gender they identify as, however, guidelines are given for the players to nominate their gender identity at the time of registration.
According to the policy, announced yesterday, transgender players are allowed “to use bathrooms, showers and changerooms that align with their affirmed gender”.
Upon which Mr Morrison, the PM said that Cricket Australia had taken a “sledgehammer” approach to inclusion, which is not required, and urged the organization to deal the issue “calmly”.
In a statement, the PM Morrison said, “This is a very heavy-handed approach they’re taking with local sport and I think there are far more practical ways to handle these issues than these sort of heavy mandatory ways of doing it. I’m sure these issues are being quite carefully and practically managed at a club level already and so why there’s the necessity to get the sledgehammer out on this is mystifying me. I think we just need to get the issue in perspective and manage it calmly.”
However, Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts said, transgender and gender diverse players will be supported equally. “Discrimination of any sort has no place in the game,” said Mr Roberts.
