In an article published in The Australian on 13 December 2018, titled “Former anti-discrimination commissioner Robin Banks now subject of discrimination complaint”, journalist Matthew Denholm reported that Women Speak Tasmania members Bronwyn Williams and Isla MacGregor had lodged both federal and state anti-discrimination complaints against former Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Robin Banks. The complaints arose from Banks’ criticism of Women Speak Tasmania in correspondence sent to members of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), in which she described the group’s opposition to transgender law reforms as “hateful” and expressed concern about the organisation being given a platform at a public forum. Following the controversy, the scheduled Human Rights Week event was cancelled, and Williams and MacGregor alleged that Banks’ actions amounted to an attempt to “no-platform” them because of their political views and advocacy.
Denholm reported that the complaints alleged Banks had encouraged discrimination against the women on the basis of their political beliefs and activities, and had humiliated, insulted, ridiculed, and intimidated them. Banks denied seeking to prevent Women Speak Tasmania from speaking and stated that her intention had been to encourage a broader range of views to be represented. She also noted her support for the use of discrimination complaint processes and indicated she would respond through the appropriate legal channels if required. The article placed the dispute within the broader debate over Tasmania’s proposed gender law reforms, which Women Speak Tasmania opposed on the grounds that they could affect women’s sex-based rights, while Banks and other reform advocates supported the changes as measures to improve recognition and protections for transgender and gender-diverse people.
Source: The Australian
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