Australia’s biggest banks, supermarkets, universities and even mining giants are giving “transgender” employees special paid leave for so-called “sex changes” and “gender-affirming care”.
The corporations providing “trans” leave include the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, Suncorp, Bank of Queensland, Coles, Woolworths, BHP, Optus, the Victorian Government, the ABC, SBS, Allianz, PwC, the Australian National University, the University of Technology, and Charles Darwin University.
Under the policies, staff who claim to be the sex they are not can take varying periods of time off to have their genitals surgically removed, get access to hormones, get treatment for their mental health issues, or falsify government documents such as birth certificates and driver’s licences.
Bernadette Hanly, Head of Culture and Inclusion at recruitment firm Hays and a former Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Senior Manager at ANZ, said large corporations were providing “gender affirmation leave” in part to appease and attract far-left staff and new hires.
“Gender Affirmation Leave aren’t just benefits; they are proof points that send a clear signal to employees and candidates that their workplace is inclusive,” she told the National News Network.
“Gen Z and Millennials prioritise workplaces that are socially responsible, value‑led, and inclusive, placing far greater weight on an organisation’s ethical, environmental, and social commitments than previous generations.”
Hays offers its own employees two weeks of paid “gender affirmation leave”, ANZ provides six weeks of paid and up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, the Commonwealth Bank offers four weeks paid, Suncorp gives six weeks paid and up to 12 weeks unpaid, as does the BoQ group.
Supermarket giant Coles, which claims to have “900 team members who identify as transgender or gender diverse”, offers those employees two weeks of paid leave, while rival Woolworths offers the same along with two weeks unpaid.
Mining company BHP offers six weeks paid leave and a clothing allowance, Optus offers four weeks, PwC offers six weeks and a $1,650 clothing allowance to change or buy different fitting uniforms, and Allianz offers four weeks.
Taxpayer-funded broadcasters the ABC and SBS offer 10 days and five days respectively, and the Victorian state government provides four weeks.
ANU gives 20 days to full times staff and 20 instances to casual staff, UTS also gives 20 days, and CDU provides 30 days.
Header image: Left, Coles employees celebrate “Big Gay Day” in Brisbane (Coles). Right, a DEI presentation at ANZ (ANZ).
