MEDIA RELEASE
EMBARGOED UNTIL 12:00 PM, TUESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2026
Sarah Game introduces two bills to protect parental rights and women's safety
South Australian Legislative Councillor the Hon Sarah Game MLC is introducing two significant pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening parental rights in schools and protecting the safety, privacy and dignity of women in female prisons.
Ms Game will be joined by Victorian MP the Hon Moira Deeming MLC, Ashlyn Vice from the Australian Christian Lobby and representatives of parent advocacy groups to outline the proposed reforms.
The Education and Children's Services (Parental Primacy) Amendment Bill 2026 seeks to restore the primary role of parents in decisions concerning their children's moral and ethical education.
The Bill would prohibit schools from facilitating the social transition of students under 18, remove gender fluidity and social transition education from school curricula, and require greater transparency about sensitive classroom content. It would also give parents the right to withdraw their children from lessons involving matters of parental primacy.
"Parents should never be sidelined when it comes to raising their own children. Schools have an important role in education, but they should not replace parents in making decisions about a child's values, identity and upbringing," Ms Game said.
"Parents deserve to know what their children are being taught, and they should have the final say on sensitive matters."
The Correctional Services (Transgender Prisoners-Female Prisons) Amendment Bill 2026 seeks to ensure that female prisons remain exclusively for prisoners designated female at birth.
The Bill would prevent prisoners who identify as female but were not designated female at birth from being placed or transferred into female correctional facilities, notwithstanding provisions of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 or other laws.
"Women in prison are among the most vulnerable people in our community. Their safety, privacy and dignity must never be compromised," Ms Game said.
"It is extraordinary that we have reached a point where legislation is needed to define what a female is and to protect female-only spaces.
"Women deserve the right to feel safe, including women serving custodial sentences."
Ms Game said both Bills address fundamental responsibilities that should not be controversial.
"Parents have the right to raise their children, and women have the right to safe, female-only spaces. These are basic protections that should never have been called into question."
"These Bills are about putting common sense, safeguarding and accountability back into our laws."
Ms Game called on all members of the South Australian Parliament to carefully consider the legislation and put the interests of children, parents and vulnerable women first.
ENDS
Contact details:
Deepa Mathew
82379414