Fabricated Australia election flyer fuels anti-trans hate

"You have the right to do whatever you like to your own body. JUST DONT EXPECT ME TO PAY FOR IT! YOU WANT IT, YOU PAY FOR IT!!" says a Facebook post published on April 10, 2025.

The post features what appears to be an election pamphlet advocating to "fund gender-affirming surgery through Medicare."

"LABOR & GREENS ARE OUR ONLY HOPE," it continues.

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Screenshot of false post, taken April 22, 2025

With the closely contested May 3 elections looming, support for the ruling Labor party appears to be creeping back up after declining in polls towards the end of its term (archived link).

Similar posts on social media also shared the claim. It was also spread by Reignite Democracy Australia, a group that has advocated against Covid-19 restrictions and mandatory vaccinations.

The posts triggered a wave of anti-trans comments from users who believed the pamphlet reflected an official campaign position shared by the centre-left Labor party and the left-wing Greens, a minor party that currently has four seats in Parliament.

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Infographic on Australia's outgoing parliament, as the country is set for general elections on Saturday, May 2.

But the pamphlet shared in the posts is neither authorised nor reflective of the official positions of either party in the 2025 elections.

A spokesperson for the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), which authorises printed electoral content, told AFP on April 16 it was aware of the flyer and "the fact that it appears unauthorised" (archived link).

It also said it was investigating who was responsible.

'Parody'

Keyword searches on X found the purported campaign material originated from a post by a self-described parody account of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the username "@AlboIsPM" (archived link).

The post reads: "My government will fully fund gender-affirming procedures via Medicare. We're also supporting puberty blockers from preschool and fairness for trans women in women's sports."

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Screenshot of the parody account's post, taken April 22, 2025

The account also states in its bio that it is "unauthorised" by the premier, whose actual verified account is "@AlboMP" (archived link).

'Harmful rhetoric'

Currently, Medicare offers limited coverage for gender-affirming surgeries, which encompass a variety of procedures that trans people may seek (archived link).

Advocates say access remains financially difficult, further complicated by "inconsistent federal, state, and territory policies" on Medicare rebates and publicly funded surgical options.

Reports from Australian daily newspapers The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald show the Greens party previously advocated for funding gender-affirming surgery under Medicare in its 2022 election platform (archived here and here).

In November 2023, the federal health department's Medical Services Advisory Committee began reviewing a proposal from the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, which seeks the inclusion of 21 additional gender-affirming procedures under Medicare for individuals whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth (archived link). The proposal remains under review. 

As of April 23, 2025, neither Labor nor the Greens have included a pledge to prioritise funding for gender-affirming surgery in their current proposals to expand Medicare (archived links here and here).

Addressing the false claims that have triggered anti-trans remarks, a representative for LGBTIQ+ Health Australia told AFP on April 16 that the organisation has called candidates to avoid the use of inflammatory and harmful rhetoric about LGBTIQ+ people during the election period.

"Harmful rhetoric against LGBTIQ+ people in public debate has real and lasting consequences--fuelling stigma, discrimination, and direct harm to mental health and wellbeing," Policy, Research and Communications Director James Zanotto said. 

AFP has fact-checked other misinformation about the Australian election here, here and here.