George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I assume I am asked this rather flippant question in my capacity as Minister for Arts. I can confirm to the honourable senator that I was recently elected a member of the Melbourne Savage Club, which is a very illustrious organisation operating in Melbourne. I think that, to the best of my recollection, I am a member of three clubs—two of which are mixed and one of which, the Savage Club, has only male members.

There is nothing against the law of Australia for there to be gender-only clubs. There is nothing against the law of Australia for there to be, for example, women-only golf clubs. There is nothing against the law of Australia for there to be men-only clubs and there is nothing against the law of Australia for there to be mixed clubs—nor should there; nor is that sexist.