Dear Attorney General Guy Barnett,
Re: Request for Intervention in the Implementation of New Libraries Tasmania Guidelines
I’m writing to raise serious concerns regarding freedom of speech and political belief in the application of new Libraries Tasmania venue guidelines.
Women Speak Tasmania (WST) has recently been informed that Libraries Tasmania is now vetting community organisations for potential “hate speech” when hiring meeting rooms at public library venues.
When we met with you in January this year, I raised the issue of our event — Forum: Puberty Blockers – The 21st Century Global Medical Scandal — being cancelled at the Burnie Library. You expressed concern at the time and reaffirmed your strong commitment to freedom of speech, saying:
“I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
We now face a similar issue. When we recently attempted to book a room at the Huonville Library, a staff member named Kamran (as per his name tag) informed us that new procedures had been introduced following the Library Act Amendment of 23 September 2024, section 7(3)(g) of the 1984 Act. He advised that these new guidelines require vetting for “hate speech” before confirming bookings.
We made a booking for 6 November at 1:00 pm, but have not yet received confirmation.
Given that WST has already been banned from hosting events at the Devonport and Burnie libraries, and that internal Devonport Library emails obtained under a Right to Information request referenced the drafting of “new guidelines,” we are deeply concerned that these procedures are being applied inconsistently and without transparency.
We respectfully request your intervention to ensure that these guidelines are implemented in a manner consistent with Tasmania’s commitment to freedom of expression and political belief. WST seeks only to host an educational meeting on child safeguarding in schools, an issue of pressing public importance that was recently reported in The Australian by journalist Stephen Rice (“Secrecy rules as children taught ‘gender ideology”, October 2025).
If these restrictive guidelines persist, we urge you to publicly affirm Tasmanians’ right to hold and express impartial political opinions, and to ensure that Libraries Tasmania — as a public institution and a centre for learning — remains open to all community organisations acting in good faith for educational purposes.
Freedom of speech is essential to a healthy democracy. We ask for your support to protect this right in Tasmania’s public spaces.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Elizabeth Caballero
Retired General Practitioner
Director, Women Speak Tasmania
Cc: Hon. Jeremy Rockliff
Cc: Hon. Eric Abetz
Cc: Hon. Jo Palmer