The debating society of Australia's oldest and most prestigious university has declared that half of its competitors in a national tournament must be transgender males or women.

The University of Sydney has introduced new rules for the upcoming Easters event, where students from across Australia and Asia duke it out on topical issues over the public holiday long weekend.

It states that 'no less than 50 per cent' of debaters across all teams must identify as 'non cis-male'. Cis-gender describes a person who identifies with their sex at birth.

The debating society of the University of Sydney (pictured) has declared that half of its competitors in a prestigious national tournament must be transgender males or women

The University of Sydney has introduced new rules for the upcoming Easters event, where students from across Australia and Asia duke over the public holiday long weekend (stock picture)

University of Sydney Union Debating is also demanding that at least four debaters in its top three teams, collectively consisting of nine debaters, identify as non-cis male.

One-third of adjudicators must also identify as non-cis-male.

The same rules are also being applied to 'women identifying debaters and judges'.

University of Sydney Union Debating is also demanding that at least four debaters in its top three teams, collectively consisting of nine debaters, identify as non-cis male

The debating club at the University of Sydney also has an affirmative action rule for its top three teams, stipulating that at least one debater be a 'person of colour from a minority ethno-cultural background, or marginalised by white supremacy'.

A quarter of all debaters across all teams must also be from such an ethnic minority.

Of that 25 per cent from a marginalised ethnic minority, half must be 'non cis male'.

The University of Sydney is hosting the Easters tournament from April 2 to 6, starting on Easter Monday.

The University of Sydney also has a rule stipulating that at least one debater be a 'person of colour from a minority ethno-cultural background, or marginalised by white supremacy'

Conservative columnist Rita Panahi, who was born in Iran, described the policy as 'just insane'.

'Identity politics is so toxic. It’s divisive, it’s degrading. It pushes this victimhood narrative that is often completely at odds with reality,' she told Sydney radio station 2GB on Wednesday.

'Really, speaking as someone who is a woman and who is from an ethnic background… if I was selected on merit I would be so appalled because it completely undermines my achievement.'

University of Sydney Union president Courtney Thompson said the debating society's rules 'aimed to create space for, and develop, debaters from diverse backgrounds'

University of Sydney Union president Courtney Thompson said the debating society's affirmative action rules 'aimed to create space for, and develop, debaters from diverse backgrounds to ensure our debating program is as inclusive and successful as it can be'.

She added the gender and ethnicity quotas recognised 'the fact that traditionally, the profile of debating skews overwhelmingly towards affluent, white and privately educated students'.

Australia's oldest and most prestigious counts former prime ministers John Howard and Gough Whitlam among its alumni.

ABC personality and pure maths prodigy Adam Spencer was a world champion debater with the society during the early 1990s.