Women Speak Tasmania launched Women’s Pledge Australia, a state-wide initiative calling on political representatives to commit to safeguarding the sex-based rights of women and girls. The pledge has been formally sent to Tasmanian state parliamentarians, as well as to members of local government, with a clear and urgent request: stand with women and girls by upholding evidence, fairness, and the principles of biological reality in policymaking.
What the Pledge Stands For
The pledge outlines six clear commitments that any representative can and should sign onto if they are serious about protecting women’s rights. These include:
- Maintaining female-only spaces such as toilets, changerooms, refuges, and prisons, where privacy and safety are paramount.
- Preserving fairness in women’s sports, ensuring that girls and women are not forced to compete against males.
- Opposing medicalisation of children, recognising the serious harms caused by puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgeries.
- Ensuring evidence-based policy, not ideology, guides law reform and public health.
- Consulting women’s organisations before changing laws or policies that impact women and girls.
- Defending free speech and open debate, without fear of censorship or silencing.
These are not extreme demands. They are basic commitments to uphold women’s rights, grounded in evidence and supported by international developments, including the Cass Review in the UK and medical reversals in Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
Why This Matters in Tasmania
Tasmania has been at the centre of national debates on gender law reforms, with policies that often prioritise gender identity over sex-based protections. Women Speak Tasmania has consistently raised concerns about how these policies affect women’s facilities, girls’ sporting opportunities, and the safety of vulnerable groups such as women in prison.
By sending the Women’s Pledge directly to elected officials, WST is asking politicians to put their position on record. Will they stand with women and girls—or will they remain silent in the face of growing evidence of harm?
Holding Leaders Accountable
The strength of the Women’s Pledge lies in its clarity. Politicians cannot hide behind vague promises of “balance” or “inclusivity.” Signing the pledge is a public statement of commitment to women’s sex-based rights. Failing to sign sends its own message.
As the responses (or lack thereof) come in, Women Speak Tasmania will continue to hold leaders accountable. The public has a right to know where their representatives stand on issues of safety, fairness, and integrity in policy.
A Growing Movement
The Women’s Pledge is not just for Tasmania. It is part of a growing national movement to restore reality and fairness in law and policy. Across the world, governments are beginning to step back from the harms of gender ideology. Australia must not lag behind.
Women Speak Tasmania will continue to call on elected leaders to take a clear stand—and we invite women across Australia to join us in amplifying this call.
Find out Tasmania Representatives replies to the Women’s Pledge
Reply from Louise Elliot, Hobart City Councillor
Hobart City Councillor Louise Elliot has proudly declared her support for Women’s Pledge Australia, and it was the first signatory of the Pledge, standing firmly as an advocate for women’s sex-based rights.
Councillor Elliot has been a consistent voice in defending women’s rights to safety, privacy, and fairness—particularly in spaces and opportunities designed for women and girls.
In backing the pledge, Councillor Elliot reinforces her commitment to standing with women across Tasmania and Australia who are calling for laws that protect their rights, not diminish them.
Reply from Phillip Bigg Independent Candidate for Lyons 03.07.25
Reply from Adrian Pickin – Shooters, Fishers & Farmers Party Tasmania 11.07.25
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party of Tasmania publicly endorsed the campaign’s goal to restore protections for biological sex in law, as highlighted in their response to Women Speak Tasmania
Dear Dr Caballero,
Thank you for your email and for raising these serious concerns. I acknowledge the important advocacy work being done by Women Speak Tasmania and others to highlight the risks women and girls face when sex-based rights are compromised or overlooked in law and policy.
Let me be clear: this is not about attacking anyone’s identity or sexuality — we respect the rights and dignity of all individuals. However, it is about ensuring that women and girls have access to safe spaces, fair competition in sport, and the protections they have fought for over generations.
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party of Tasmania supports the restoration of biological sex as a protected legal characteristic. We believe this is essential for preserving female-only spaces such as women’s shelters, prisons, health services and sport — not as a rejection of others, but as a recognition of biological reality and its implications for safety, privacy and fairness.
We are also deeply concerned about the erosion of free speech, particularly when women are silenced for simply speaking up in defence of their rights. Open discussion grounded in science, evidence and lived experience must always remain protected in a democratic society.
The UN Special Rapporteur’s report rightly brings global attention to these issues. It is time our laws caught up. We support the principles of the Women’s Pledge
Kind regards,
Adrian Pickin
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers Party Tasmania
Reply from Jeremy Rockliff – The Liberal Party Tasmania 17.07.25
Reply from Lee Hanson – One Nation 18.07.25
Lee Hanson of One Nation signed and expressed support for the Women’s Pledge in mid-July 2025, following an invitation from Women Speak Tasmania
Dear Dr Elizabeth Caballero – Women Speak Tasmania,
Thanks for sending this information through, along with the Women’s Pledge Australia. Please find attached signed and supported by me.
I look forward to meeting with you soon, so that I can continue to better understand the issues and complexities at hand.
Thank you kindly,
Lee Hanson
