Australian billionaire Clive Palmer told a room of reporters he would “take a bow and apologise” for the incorrect use of the term “gender” in a national ad campaign that targets trans people.
A series of paid ads are currently being run across Australian televisions and newspapers for Mr Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots political party which claims “There are only two genders – male and female.”
The ads argue trans people should not be allowed to compete in women’s sport and to stop confusing children in schools.
“Give them a safe and normal environment to grow and develop in and let them decide who they are when they become adults,” the ads state.”
During his address to the National Press Club on Thursday, Mr Palmer said his party’s policy was “to recognise there are two genders – a man and a woman, male and female.”
“If you go on the website for the World Health Organisation, you’ll find they recognise that,” he said.
A reporter questioned Mr Palmer about the WHO’s recognition of gender, saying the organisation state’s rigid gender norms were harmful.
Mr Palmer apologised to the reporter and said should have said there were only two sexes.
“That’s what I meant to say,” he said.
“There’s either a man or a woman, and that’s what I meant to say. In my all of my life, I’ve only ever experienced those two sexes.
“While Labor and Liberals are for ‘they/them’, the Trumpet of Patriots are for you”.
Equality Australia chief executive officer Anna Brown said recent polling showed the vast majority of Australians did not want to see trans people used as a political punching bag.
She said voters feared Australian politicians going down the same path as the US and wholeheartedly rejected Trumpist rhetoric and ideology.
“Attacking the marginalised is not only morally wrong but politically foolish,” she said.
“Most Australians are outraged to see a billionaire splash a truly obscene amount of money peddling hate and sowing division when they can’t afford to pay their bill or buy groceries.
“The fact he’s taking cheap shots at some of the most vulnerable people in our society makes it all the more disgraceful – these are real people and ads like this cause real harm.”