13th May 2021, 12:23 PM – Senate Motions - Sex Education - For respectful education

The majority voted against a motion introduced by NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi (Greens), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) Australian school students are crying out for clear and direct education on sex and consent,

(ii) the Federal Government's 'Respect matters' resources for schools were announced in 2015, re-announced twice and launched six years later to the condemnation of experts and survivors for promoting harmful ideas about consent and relationships,

(iii) two of the videos were so bad they were removed and the entire set of materials is being reviewed,

(iv) women's safety experts say the remaining materials include some which will confuse students and perpetuate harmful myths, and

(v) Our Watch's pilot programs in Queensland and Victoria, delivering age appropriate, whole-of-school and evidence-based respectful relationships, have been evaluated as successful; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

(i) fund the roll out of whole-of-school respectful relationships programs around the country, and

(ii) support including the teaching of affirmative consent in the Australian Curriculum.