Correspondence between WST and Libraries Tasmania
Emma Shaw, a member of WST, hired a room at the Devonport library to host a Forum called “Women’s Rights in the Modern World”. We were going to discuss how gender law reforms impact women and how the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination laws and the Federal Sex discrimination Act defines what a woman is.
Our booking was confirm on the 27th February 2025
On Wednesday 19th March 2025, Simon Jones from Libraries Tasmania sent us an email to notify us about the cancellation of our booking, citing their ‘Client Diversity and Inclusion Policy’.
Good morning Emma,
Please be advised that your meeting room booking to host a public forum at Devonport Library on 7 April 2025 has been cancelled.
Libraries Tasmania must ensure the use of our spaces align with our organisation’s vision, values and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Our Client Diversity and Inclusion Policy outlines this commitment as it relates to our practices and engagement with everyone who use our spaces and services.
We are currently reviewing our meeting room policies and processes to ensure staff are clear on the need to balance intellectual freedom and inclusive, safe library spaces.
Since your meeting room booking has been cancelled, we kindly request that you do not advertise this event as taking place at a Libraries Tasmania venue.
Regards
Simon
We send a reply asking which sections of the Inclusion and Diversity Policy WST and/or our forum is in breach of?
His reply below
Dear Emma,
The sections of our Client Diversity and Inclusion Policy that relate to our decision to cancel the room booking can be read in our Guiding Principles.
Specifically, “We welcome everyone regardless of the characteristics that makes people unique including but not limited to physical or cognitive ability, literacy abilities, age, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or financial situation”.
Women Speak Tasmania have made many public statements that do not make members of the LGBTQIA+ community feel included or welcome.
Regards
Simon
We asked ‘ What are the public statements made by WST that have impacted our booking?
We receive no reply from Simon or other representatives from Library Tasmania, so we asked again
Good morning Simon,
A week has passed since I emailed you to ask for more details regarding the cancellation of the booking made by Women Speak Tasmania for the Melrose room at the Devonport Library for April 7, 2025. Our booking was for the purpose of holding a forum entitled ‘Women’s Rights in the Modern World.’
In your last email you stated that our forum did not accord with the Client Diversity and Inclusion policies of Libraries Tasmania. You also stated that “Women Speak Tasmania have made public statements that do not make members of the LGBTQIA + Community feel included or welcome.” We ask again, what are these statements to which you refer?
Please be assured we take this situation very seriously and therefore we need you, at your earliest convenience, to provide examples of the statements relevant to the decision of Libraries Tasmania to cancel an event organised by a group of Tasmania women that involves discussion of issues that concern the safety and dignity of Tasmanian women and girls.
Looking forward to your prompt reply,
Kind regards,
Emma Shaw
For Women Speak Tasmania
We did not received a reply