Letter sent to Jo Palmer on 15 March 2025
Dear Ms Palmer,
I am a Tasmanian resident, father of 2 daughters and a tax paying worker.
Today I became aware that one of our schools, Lindisfarne North Primary, recently allowed a boy to compete in the girls events at their sports day. And, predictably, he won several of the events, unfairly removing the possibility of our girls having the satisfaction of winning the events he took part in.
In a world that is beginning to walk back on allowing males to compete in female sports I am struggling to understand why we in Tasmania are continuing this practice.
In your role as minister for education can you please advise me what policies Tasmania has in place to protect girls’ rights in sports at school. Thank you in advance.
Yours sincerely,
Response from Jo Palmer on 03 April 2025
Dear Mr XXXXXXX
Thank you for your correspondence of 15 March 2025, regarding boys competing against girls in sport at public primary schools in Tasmania.
Schools must create environments that encourage all students to participate in sport and physical activity. Both the Tasmanian Government and the Department are committed to the wellbeing of all children and young people in Tasmania.
I am advised that from a legal perspective, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 states that for competitive sporting activities it is unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of sex or gender identity for children under the age of 12 years.
I have received advice from the Department indicating that to ensure all students can participate, schools have been invited to consider opportunities for non-gendered, age or skill-based events, staged to maximise inclusion, safety, and fairness while maintaining the integrity of the sport. This can include a ‘mixed’ category, or races and events run on qualifying times, not ‘boys or girls’.
Once again, thank you for your correspondence, I appreciate you taking the time to express your concerns regarding these important and complex issues.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Jo Palmer MLC
Minister for Education