It should be the simplest question in politics: What is a woman?
But in a disturbing exchange at NSW budget estimates this week, the Minister for Women, Jodi Harrison, tied herself in knots when asked whether biological men who identify as women are eligible for the NSW Women of the Year Awards.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak asked a straightforward question: could a man who identifies as a woman be named the 2026 NSW Woman of the Year?
Minister Harrison’s reply? “All women are eligible to be nominated and, um, be awarded those categories.” When pressed, she doubled down: “Anyone who identifies as a woman and is recognised as a woman by her community can enter the Women of the Year Awards.”
This is nothing short of absurd. The Minister for Women apparently cannot bring herself to affirm the biological reality that only women can be women. Instead, she has opened the door for men to claim women’s awards, stripping them from the very people the awards were designed to honour.
Sadly, Jodi Harrison is not alone. Family First has been reporting for months that woke Australian politicians and bureaucrats repeatedly stumble when asked to define what a woman is.
Even former federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton refused during the election campaign to commit to fixing the definition of woman in law by reforming the flawed Sex Discrimination Act, which enshrines gender fluid ideology and leaves women’s rights unprotected. If those in the highest offices of the land won’t stand up for truth and biological reality, is it any wonder ministers like Jodi Harrison cannot answer a simple question?
Australians deserve better than leaders who dodge and weave on something so basic.
When the Minister for Women adopts the line that “anyone who identifies” qualifies as a woman, she is betraying every mother, daughter, sister and grandmother in our state. The very title of “Woman of the Year” is at risk of being stolen from women themselves.
Family First believes this nonsense must be stopped. Awards meant to honour women should go to women—biological women. If Family First candidates are elected to the parliaments of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia at the upcoming elections, we will fight to ensure that biological men can never be named ‘Woman of the Year’.