Q: Do you think that Federal law should explicitly state that babies who survive abortions have equal human rights to other babies?
A: Yes.

Q: Do you personally support protecting the right of medical practitioners to conscientiously object to participating in abortion or voluntary assisted dying, without legal ramification?
A: Yes.

Q: Do you support maintaining existing exemptions in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 that allow religious schools to make employment and enrolment decisions consistent with their faith and doctrine?
A: Yes.

Q: Would you support restoring biological definitions of male and female within the federal legislation?
A:Yes.

Q: The Albanese Government has commissioned a national review into treatment guidelines for children and adolescents experiencing confusion around their gender. Do you support a fully independent inquiry into the evidence base and long-term outcomes of medical interventions for minors?
A: Yes.

Q: Do you personally support the right of parents to be fully informed and to give consent before their child is socially or medically transitioned in a school or healthcare setting?
A: Yes, absolutely.

Q: What is your personal commitment to protecting religious freedom in Australia, and how would this guide your votes and advocacy as a federal representative for Farrer?
A: I support protecting religious freedom in Australia.
Our sense of a ‘fair go’ is grounded in the freedoms, rights and responsibilities we enjoy as Australian citizens and we are blessed to live in a country where our shared values are more important than race, creed, colour or ethnicity.
Protecting religious freedoms, in tandem with the strongest possible guardrails against hate speech and hate-based activities, is a bedrock of our peaceful and peace-loving nation.

There is no place for hatred and violence in our country, full stop.
This is the outlook and approach I would take when considering legislation – and the impact of legislation – if I am elected Member for Farrer.

Michelle Milthorpe has provided a statement in response to all seven questions.

Michelle recognises that issues such as gender identity, abortion and voluntary assisted dying are deeply personal and shaped by strongly held beliefs, including faith.

She does not believe these matters should be politicised. They require careful, expert medical care, both physical and mental, and strong support for individuals and their families.

Michelle’s role is not to judge individual circumstances. Her responsibility is to ensure that clear safeguards are in place, that healthcare is delivered responsibly within the law, and that medical professionals are supported to act ethically, including through the right to conscientious objection.

She supports access to legal healthcare, including reproductive healthcare, while recognising that these are complex decisions made by individuals within the framework of the law.

On voluntary assisted dying, Michelle acknowledges it is legal under strict conditions across Australia. Her personal view, shaped by her mum’s work as a palliative care nurse, is that high-quality palliative care should always be the priority. She has seen firsthand the compassion and dignity that good palliative care can provide. However, she also respects that others may make different choices within
the law.

Michelle’s approach is grounded in compassion and humility. She lives by Jesus’ teaching of, “judge not, that you be not judged,” and that we are called to love our neighbour, whoever they may be. Her focus is on ensuring people are supported, cared for, and treated with dignity, whatever their circumstances.

Q: Do you think that Federal law should explicitly state that babies who survive abortions have equal human rights to other babies?
A: Yes, all babies who survive abortion have equal human rights to other babies. I believe that all babies from the moment of conception have a right to life.

Q: Do you personally support protecting the right of medical practitioners to conscientiously object to participating in abortion or voluntary assisted dying, without legal ramification?
A: Yes, I definitely support the right of medical practitioners to conscientiously object to participating in abortion or voluntary assisted dying. I also support the right for medical facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes run by religious organisations to refuse to provide these services.

Q: Do you support maintaining existing exemptions in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 that allow religious schools to make employment and enrolment decisions consistent with their faith and doctrine?
A: Yes, I support maintaining existing exemptions in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, allowing religious schools to make employment and enrolment decisions consistent with their faith and doctrine.

Q: Would you support restoring biological definitions of male and female within the federal legislation?
A: Yes, I support restoring biological definitions of male and female within federal legislation.

Q: The Albanese Government has commissioned a national review into treatment guidelines for children and adolescents experiencing confusion around their gender. Do you support a fully independent inquiry into the evidence base and long-term outcomes of medical interventions for minors?
A: Yes, I support a fully independent inquiry into the evidence base and long-term outcomes of medical interventions for minors who are experiencing gender dysphoria.

Q: Do you personally support the right of parents to be fully informed and to give consent before their child is socially or medically transitioned in a school or healthcare setting?
A: Yes, I absolutely support the right of parents to be fully informed and to give consent before their child is socially or medically transitioned in a school or healthcare setting.

Q: What is your personal commitment to protecting religious freedom in Australia, and how would this guide your votes and advocacy as a federal representative for Farrer?

A: Yes, I am committed to freedom of speech and religion and am opposed to anti-discrimination laws that infringe on these rights and believe that restricting speech based on subjective concepts such as causing offence or hatred is problematic.  I believe that faith-based organisations should have the freedom to employ staff that share their own beliefs.

Q: Do you think that Federal law should explicitly state that babies who survive abortions have equal human rights to other babies?
A: YES

Q: Do you personally support protecting the right of medical practitioners to conscientiously object to participating in abortion or voluntary assisted dying, without legal ramification?
A: YES

Q: Do you support maintaining existing exemptions in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 that allow religious schools to make employment and enrolment decisions consistent with their faith and doctrine?
A: YES

Q: Would you support restoring biological definitions of male and female within the federal legislation?
A:YES

Q: The Albanese Government has commissioned a national review into treatment guidelines for children and adolescents experiencing confusion around their gender. Do you support a fully independent inquiry into the evidence base and long-term outcomes of medical interventions for minors?
A: YES

Q: Do you personally support the right of parents to be fully informed and to give consent before their child is socially or medically transitioned in a school or healthcare setting?
A:YES

Q: What is your personal commitment to protecting religious freedom in Australia, and how would this guide your votes and advocacy as a federal representative for Farrer?

A: Both I and One Nation fully support the right to freedom of religion.

Q: Do you think that Federal law should explicitly state that babies who survive abortions have equal human rights to other babies?
A: Yes.
The Coalition supports the right of medical practitioners to act in accordance with their
conscience and professional judgement.

At the same time, it’s important patients are able to access lawful medical services.
In Australia matters such as abortion and voluntary assisted dying are primarily the
responsibility of the states and territories.

Where such matters come before federal parliament, the Coalition has traditionally enabled a conscience vote for its representatives.

Should any matter come before federal parliament, my personal starting principle is that I believe any child born alive deserves proper care and humanity.

Q: Do you personally support protecting the right of medical practitioners to conscientiously object to participating in abortion or voluntary assisted dying, without legal ramification?
A: Yes.
I support protecting the right of medical practitioners to act in accordance with their
conscience and professional judgement.

This means that doctors, nurses and healthcare providers should not be compelled to
participate in procedures that conflict with their deeply held beliefs.

At the same time, Australians need to be able to access lawful medical services with
appropriate arrangements in place to ensure continuity of care.

Matters such as abortion and voluntary assisted dying are primarily regulated by the states and territories. I respect their role in setting these frameworks.

Q: Do you support maintaining existing exemptions in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 that allow religious schools to make employment and enrolment decisions consistent with their faith and doctrine?
A: Yes.
My starting principle is that we should protect religious people and institutions, not
undermine them.

Religious schools provide choice to parents as to how they would like their children
educated. We should respect and uphold parental choice, not undermine choice.

The Liberal Party opposed the Albanese Government’s proposals that would have imposed a real reduction in existing legal and operational freedoms for religious schools.

Q: Would you support restoring biological definitions of male and female within the federal legislation?
A:Yes.
I believe sex is a biological reality, not a social construct.

Australia is a very diverse country with very fair-minded people. Consistent with this, people who identify as transgender should absolutely be treated with respect and dignity.

The Sex Discrimination Act was designed to protect women.

Single sex spaces are very important for the privacy, safety, dignity and health of women.

We need laws that are clear, workable, and that maintain community confidence particularly in areas like sport, prisons, women’s shelters and other single-sex settings.

Q: The Albanese Government has commissioned a national review into treatment guidelines for children and adolescents experiencing confusion around their gender. Do you support a fully independent inquiry into the evidence base and long-term outcomes of medical interventions for minors?
A: Yes.
Any review should be independent and evidence-based and prioritise patient safety and
long-term wellbeing.

I know the Coalition will carefully consider the findings of the National Health and Medical Research Council and any recommendations that arise from it.

Q: Do you personally support the right of parents to be fully informed and to give consent before their child is socially or medically transitioned in a school or healthcare setting?
A:Yes.
I believe parents should be appropriately informed and involved in major decisions affecting their child’s health, education and development.

These are sensitive issues, and it is important that schools and healthcare providers work
constructively with families to ensure children receive the right support.

Decisions relating to medical treatment are primarily the responsibility of state and territory governments.

Q: What is your personal commitment to protecting religious freedom in Australia, and how would this guide your votes and advocacy as a federal representative for Farrer?

A: I strongly support religious freedom. My starting principle is that people should not be
discriminated against because of their religious belief, activity, or lack of religious belief. I
would be opposed to any proposal that takes religious freedom backwards.

Sustainable Australia Party (SAP) states it has no plans to advocate for law changes in areas outside its existing policy platform, noting that as a minor party it does not hold positions on every issue raised. While it appeals to a science and evidence-based approach to policy, it also confirms that many of these matters fall outside its policy scope. This leaves no clear indication of the party’s position on these issues beyond a general commitment to reviewing them on a case-by-case basis if elected.

You can find SAP’s policy platform here:

https://www.sustainableaustralia.org.au/policies