From The Local Paper – Mitchell Shire, Wednesday, August 20, 2025:

Northern Victoria MLC Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell has strongly criticised the Respectful Relationships program, saying it is “completely unacceptable” for Victorian schools to teach that “there are more than two genders.”

“I believe that there are two genders, male and female,” Mrs Tyrrell told the Local Paper. “Every one of my constituents who has spoken to me on this issue shares this view, and dare I say the majority of Victorians think the same.”

While calling for “respect to be shown by everyone to everyone, regardless of gender, race, social status or sexual orientation,” she said there was “no place in our schools for children as young as five being taught that their body parts may not match their gender.”

Mrs Tyrrell described such curriculum as “abhorrent” and warned it could “cause irreversible harm.” She argued that “school is not the appropriate place for such conversations,” which she said should only occur “in the privacy of their own home” if parents choose.

She also accused Premier Jacinta Allan of being “tone deaf” after her “unwarranted attack on The Australian newspaper,” and said: “To indoctrinate gender fluidity and nonbinary ideology onto our children is both irresponsible and wrong.”