One Nation senator Tyron Whitten has claimed parents supporting their children who identify as transgender are engaging in “child abuse”, telling a fringe YouTube show: “there’s male, there’s female, and then there’s mental illness”. Guardian Australia has unearthed several incendiary comments from Whitten and fellow One Nation senators Pauline Hanson and her longtime lieutenant Malcolm Roberts, about transgender Australians. Whitten filmed an interview at Parliament House in August 2025 with a YouTube page called “Billboard Battalion”.
The host recounts overhearing a Parliament House attendant escorting a group of schoolchildren. Whitten responded: “Neither did I. Look, there’s male, there’s female, and then there’s mental illness.” “If you want to wear a dress, that’s fine.
But they can’t keep saying ‘hey kids, that’s normal.’ Well, no, it’s not. And parents that are promoting this, I think that’s child abuse.” The Australian Human Rights Commission cites statistics that “around 2-3% of young Australians aged 11 to 18 years identify as transgender or gender diverse.” Referencing research from youth advocacy group Minus18, the AHRC said “9 in 10 LGBTQIA+ young people said they had faced bullying or violence because of who they are, leaving many feeling isolated and unsupported.” The offices of Whitten, Hanson and One Nation’s head office were contacted for response but did not respond to inquiries. Roberts, whose previous comments on fringe podcasts about immigration and conspiracy theories have drawn controversy, in June was dismissive of transgender Australians in a YouTube interview.
Discussing problems he saw in Australia, Roberts said: “If you cut off your dick … you’re not a woman. [But] that’s now ingrained in law in Australia that you are. Parental consent and professional assessment is generally required for children to receive gender-affirming care, including hormone treatment or “puberty blockers”. Otherwise, a court order is required.
Equality Australia CEO, Anna Brown, said Australian law had “recognised trans people and their rights for decades.” “Targeting one of Australia’s smallest and most marginalised communities isn’t just unfair, it fuels division, creates confusion and causes real harm. Trans people make up less than 1% of the population, yet they are being forced to carry the weight of a divisive and incredibly cruel culture war,” she said. It’s clear some politicians are taking advantage of a lack of familiarity with trans people to manufacture fear and division, because turning minorities into political targets is an easy way to generate attention and relevance.” The ABC reported on Wednesday the comments of Parminder Singh, who was third on One Nation’s ticket for the legislative council at the 2025 WA state election.
Asked in a YouTube interview whether he thought people were born gay, Singh replied: “No, it’s a mental illness”. Hanson on Thursday distanced herself from his comments, saying: “He’s not standing for One Nation … they’re not my views.” Barnaby Joyce said on Wednesday, speaking to the ABC: “I don’t concur with [Singh’s] views.” He also defended One Nation’s record on LGBTI issues, saying: “I think you should get [One Nation party director] James Ashby on the show and ask him, he’s gay.” “I think we’re one of the gayest parties in Australia,” he added.
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