The Liberal Party's election candidate in Paterson says she supports banning trans women from women's sport.
Brooke Vitnell said she backed the "Save Women's Sport" private member's bill introduced to Parliament in February by Tasmanian Liberal senator Claire Chandler.
"I support senator Claire Chandler's bill," Ms Vitnell said. "I believe in the definition of a woman and the definition of a man."
Ms Chandler says her proposed legislation will clarify that single-sex sport based on biological sex is not discrimination.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described Ms Chandler's bill as "terrific" and has also defended controversial comments on the subject by the Liberals' candidate in the Sydney seat of Warringah, Katherine Deves.
The Liberals' Shortland candidate, Nell McGill, said she was undecided about the proposed legislation.
"I've been talking to loads of people around Shortland about the issues that are concerning them, and this bill hasn't been raised with me at all," she said.
"I support fairness and safety in all professional sport, but, if I'm fortunate enough to be the member for Shortland after the election, I'll consider the detail of the bill and make a decision then."
The Liberals' Newcastle candidate, Katrina Wark, a nurse and Newcastle councillor, declined to comment.
Former Tasmanian anti-discrimination commissioner Robin Banks has described Ms Chandler's bill as "a legislative solution to a non-existent problem".
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia chief executive Nicky Bath said the public debate was damaging to trans and gender-diverse people.
"Election campaigns can force debates about marginalised communities that perpetuate inaccurate information and harmful myths and stereotypes," she said.
"Trans and gender-diverse people are not political footballs, and conversations need to be led by experts in appropriate forums with accurate information, care and understanding.
"An election campaign is not an appropriate forum."
Ms Bath said statistics were scarce on the trans and gender-diverse community so it was unclear how many trans women were involved in organised sport.
She said stigma and discrimination had led to trans and gender-diverse people experiencing much higher rates of psychological distress, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.
"The views being expressed are without a doubt contributing to poorer mental health and wellbeing outcomes for trans and gender-diverse people and particularly for trans women.
"We need to be having conversations that are meaningful and contribute to building a society where trans women aren't vilified."
