Below is an email exchange between Anthony Johnson and the ABC Ombudsman’s office. Anthony contacted us to share his experience of ABC bias, which he thought might be of interest.
Anthony wrote:
“I have made two complaints to the ABC about the language used to describe the Let Women Speak rally, held in Melbourne 2023. There is a strong bias towards reporting that event as an ‘anti-trans’ rally, rather than a ‘women’s rights’ rally as described by the organisers”.
Complaint lodge on 17.05.25
My first complaint – sent 17.05.25, with a response 27.05.25 – was about incorrect terminology in an article on Pesutto vs Deeming, in which the rally was described as ‘anti-trans’. I should have paid more attention to detail because it gave them a way out
Reply received on 27.05.25
Dear Anthony
Thank you for your email about an ABC NEWS online article Former Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto ordered to pay $2.3m in costs from Moira Deeming defamation battle published 16 May 2025.
Your complaint has been referred to the ABC Ombudsman’s Office. The office is separate to and independent of content making areas within the ABC. Our role is to review and, where appropriate, investigate complaints about ABC content concerning the ABC’s editorial standards in accordance with the ABC’s complaints handling process. The editorial standards can be found in the Editorial Policies. We have considered your complaint against the standards for accuracy.
We understand you have objected to the description of the event as an “anti-trans rally”.
We have carefully reviewed the content and note that significantly the actual description of the event was an ‘an anti-trans rights rally’.
The highlighted rights in the aforementioned sentence is significant in that the description of the event was not broadly ‘anti-trans’ but specifically ‘anti-trans rights’.
We note the article also acknowledges that the event was “categorised by supporters as a women’s rights event”.
Given the above, we are satisfied that the content was in keeping with the ABC’s editorial standards for accuracy.
While we have decided not to uphold your complaint on this occasion, please be assured that your concerns are noted and have been passed on to the relevant program area for their attention.
Thank you again for taking the time to write to us.
Yours sincerely,
Cath Regan
Investigations Officer
ABC Ombudsman’s Office
Complaint lodge on 12.06.25
Dear XXXX
I write in reference to previous complaints I have lodged including, but not limited to, #683687, and the subsequent responses, with the last response being from Cath Regan of the Ombudsman’s Office, May 25, 2025.
The issue: the ABC consistently and persistently refers to the Let Women Speak rally, held in Melbourne on March 18, 2023, as an ‘anti-trans rights’ rally or event. This event was described by the organisers as a rally in defence of women’s rights. The trans-activists who were protesting the event described it as an ‘anti-trans rights’ rally.
My complaints have been, and remain, about the breach of several ABC policies:
• Accuracy: by omitting a description of the event, as determined by the organisers, and presenting a description used by an opposing group in the vast majority of instances (see stats below), the ABC is failing to adhere to factual accuracy, or to demonstrate objective journalism.
• Corrections and clarifications: by continuing to report factual inaccuracies, the ABC continues to report misleading information.
• Impartiality and diversity of perspectives: in 64% of the articles referenced, the ABC uses the term ‘anti-trans rights’ to describe the rally, with no reference to the description or the objective of the organisers of the event. This fails to present a diversity of perspective, or to demonstrate impartiality.
Of the 80 identified articles published by the ABC (find below)
– 64% described the event as an ‘anti-trans rights’ rally or event.
– 10% described the event as an ‘anti-trans rights’ rally or event, as well as the ‘Let Women Speak’ rally or event, although many of the articles draw the reader towards an ‘anti-trans rights’ bias.
– 13% described the event as the ‘Let Women Speak’ rally or event, with no mention of ‘anti-trans rights’.
– 6% used neutral language to describe the event including ‘the event’, ‘the rally’ or ‘a controversial rally’.
– 8% presented conflicting information. For example, that the Let Women Speak rally was hosted by a prominent ‘anti-trans campaigner’. The inference being that the event is anti-trans rights.
In the introduction of the Deeming v Pesutto judgement, the event is referred to as ‘a “Let Women Speak” rally’. Throughout the judgement, the neutral term ‘rally’ is used.
If the ABC was to report this rally in an impartial and objective way, it would describe the event as a ‘Let Women Speak’ rally, an event held ‘in support of women’s rights’, and that ‘a group of ‘trans activists’ were present to protest the rally and its organisers. Both are true. Objectivity, impartiality and factual accuracy are all upheld, as the ABC is supposed to do.
I ask the ABC to publish an acknowledgment of biased and prejudicial coverage, and to apologise to the event organisers.
Regards,
Anthony Johnsen
List of ABC News Reports:
1. May 28, 2025
First reference is anti-trans-rights rally with a later mention of a Let Women Speak rally, followed by The event, categorised by supporters as a women’s rights event, featured UK anti-trans-rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen. –https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-28/moira-deeming-former-liberal-premiers-john pesutto-legal-costs/105345780
2. May 19, 2025
Described as a Let Women Speak anti-trans-rights rally but no mention of the purpose – i.e. women’s rights – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-19/john-pesutto-moira-deeming-fake-gofundme bankruptcy/105311170
3. May 16, 2025
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. No mention of Let Women Speak rally, or women’s rights. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-16/naus-johnpesuttokpod-1605/105303510
4. May 16, 2025
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. No mention of Let Women Speak rally, or women’s rights. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-16/john-pesutto-ordered-to-pay-$2.3m-over moira/105301690
5. May 16, 2025
First reference is anti-trans rally, with a later mention of a Let Women Speak rally, followed by The event, categorised by supporters as a women’s rights event, featured UK anti-trans rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen. –https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-16/john-pesutto-victorian-liberals-moira-deeming defamation/105300370
6. Dec 28, 2024
Described as a Let Women Speak anti-trans-rights rally but no mention of the purpose – i.e. women’s right – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-28/victorian-liberal-leadership-analysis-brad-battin john-pesutto/104766228
7. Dec 27, 2024
Described as a Let Women Speak anti-trans-rights rally but no mention of the purpose – i.e. women’s right – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-27/john-pesutto-liberal-leader-moira-deeming- /104706424
8. Dec 27, 2024
Described as a Let Women Speak anti-trans-rights rally but no mention of the purpose – i.e. women’s right –https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/worldtoday/pesutto-ousted-as-victorian opposition-leader/104765936
9. Dec 27, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. No mention of Let Women Speak rally, or women’s rights. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-27/john-pesutto-replaced-by-brad-battin-as victorian/104765818
10. Dec 27, 2024
Described as a Let Women Speak anti-trans-rights rally – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-27/vic-libs-john-pesutto-moira-deeming-brad battin-jess-wilson/104764726
11. Dec 23, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. No mention of Let Women Speak rally, or women’s rights. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/victorian-opposition-leader-faces-leadership spill-/104756876
12. Dec 22, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. No mention of Let Women Speak rally, or women’s rights. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-22/john-pesutto-leadership-spill-moira deeming/104755834
13. Dec 21, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. No mention of Let Women Speak rally, or women’s rights. This article mentions anti-trans rally twice and then goes on to refer to trans rights twice. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-21/vic-liberal-party-analysis-meeting-moira deeming-john-pesutto/104751736
14. Dec 20, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. No mention of Let Women Speak rally, or women’s rights. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/pm/vic-liberals-divided-over-deeming vote/104752774
15. Dec 20, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. No mention of Let Women Speak rally, or women’s rights. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-20/victorian-opposition-leader-john pesuttos/104753000
16. Dec 20, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally.- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-20/victorian-mp-moira-deeming-wont-rejoin liberal/104750276
17. Dec 20, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-20/moira-deeming-liberal-party-vote outcome/104749566
18. Dec 20, 2024
Described firstly as an anti-trans rights rally, followed by Let Women Speak demonstration, but no mention of the purpose – i.e. women’s right – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-20/vic-liberal-mps-meeting-moira-deeming vote/104747286
19. Dec 17, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. No mention of Let Women Speak rally, or women’s rights. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-17/victorian-liberals-to-vote-on-reinstating-moira deeming/104738750
20. Dec 16, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-16/moira-deeming-liberal-party-room-vote victoria/104733354
21. Dec 12, 2024
Described as a Let Women’s Speak rally. No mention of anti-trans rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-12/moira-deeming-wins-defamation-case-against john/104719998
22. Dec 12, 2024
Described as a rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/pm/pesutto-tipped-to-remain-vic-lib-leader-after defamation-loss/104719674
23. Dec 12, 2024
Described as an event, followed by a Let Women’s Speak rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/pm/vic-opposition-leader-pesutto-loses defamation-case/104719660
24. Dec 12, 2024
Introductory text to recorded interview describes it as a Let Women Speak rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-drive/ted-baillieu-on-moira-deeming john-pesutto-leadership/104719650
25. Dec 12, 2024
Twice described as an anti-trans rights rally and the main guest speaker as prominent UK anti-trans-rights- campaigner, Kelli-Jay Keen. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-12/moira-deeming-wins-defamation-case-against john/104717586
26. Dec 12, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally, then as a Let Women Speak rally, hosted by international anti-trans-rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen. Multiple references to both. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-12/john-pesutto-moira-deeming-defamation verdict-liberal-party/104713592
27. Oct 7, 2024
Described as a “let Women Speak” rally, but then headlined by prominent anti-trans-rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-07/john-pesutto-liberal-leadership-challenge moira-deeming-trial/104439866
28. Oct 5, 2024
Described as a rally. Also refers to Moira Deeming’s perceived anti-trans-rights views. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-05/moira-deeming-john-pesutto-defamation-trial week-three/104435112
29. Oct 3, 2024
First described as an anti-trans rights rally, and then as the Let Women Speak rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-03/moira-deeming-john-pesutto-defamation-trial secret-recording/104428596
30. Oct 2, 2024
Described as a Let Women Speak rally, a movement which looks to create spaces for women and is run by Kellie Jay Keen Minshull, a British anti-trans rights campaigner. A conflicting statement. The closing statement states: after her appearance at an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-02/the-high-stakes-defamation-trial-consuming the/104425110
31. Sep 25, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-25/john-pesutto-jeff-kennett-moira deeming/104396038
32. Sep 24, 2024
First described as an anti-trans rights rally, then as a Let Women Speak rally. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-24/john-pesutto-gives-evidence-moira-deeming defamation-trial/104391300
33. Sep 24, 2024
Described as this Let Women Speak rally, which is an anti-transgender rights event – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/pm/pesutto-defends-decision-to-expel deeming/104391168
34. Sep 21, 2024
Described as Let Women Speak rally, and then Ms Deeming had been at an anti-trans-rights rally the day before – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-21/moira-deeming-john-pesutto-defamation-trial week-one/104375406
35. Sep 20, 2024
Described as a Let Women Speak rally – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-20/moira-deeming-defamation-case-against-john pesutto/104378732
36. Sep 19, 2024
In the introductory text as well as the audio recording, described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/pm/recording-exposes-tension-in-victorian liberals/104373450
37. Sep 18, 2024
Headline describes Let Women Speak rally; copy describes as an anti-trans-rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-18/john-pesutto-moira-deeming-defamation trial/104365688
38. Sep 17, 2024
Described as a Let Women Speak rally – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-17/moira-deeming-takes-the-stand-in-her defamation/104363010
39. Sep 17, 2024
First described as an anti-trans rights rally, then as a ‘Let Women Speak’ event featuring international anti-trans-rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-17/moira-deeming-john-pesutto-defamation-trial day-two/104360100
40. Sep 16, 2024
Intro text and video content describes as an anti-trans-rights rally – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-16/moira-deemings-defamation-case-against victorian/104358406
41. Sep 16, 2024
Intro text describes as an anti-trans rally – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-16/former-mp-moira-deeming-sues-vic.-opposition/104356948
42. Sep 16, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-16/moira-deeming-victorian-opposition-john pesutto-defamation/104355480
43. May 17, 2024
First described as a rally, but then as an anti-trans rights rally on the steps of state parliament in March 2023 called “Let Women Speak”. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-17/vic-john-pesutto-apology-defamation-anti-trans rights-protest/103859604
44. May 16, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally, and then as an anti-trans rights rally on the steps of parliament called “Let Women Speak”. –https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-16/john-pesutto-defamation-case-settled-anti trans-rights-protest/103858502
45. Feb 24, 2024
Described as an anti-trans rights rally – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-02/john-pesutto-moira-deeming-defamation federal-court-lawsuit/103419842
46. Dec 5, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-05/moira-deeming-lodges-defamation-suit-john pesutto/103125656
47. Sep 6, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-06/john-pesutto-moira-deeming-vic-liberal party/102819830
48. Sep 6, 2023
Intro text describes as a March rally – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-mornings/john-pesutto-on-moira deeming-and-the-voice/102819954
49. Aug 28, 2023
Described as a controversial Melbourne rally, then the Let Women Speak rally.- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-28/kellie-jay-keen-defamation-pesutto liberal/102785784
50. May 25, 2023
Described as March’s Let Women Speak rally, an anti-trans rights protest. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-25/john-pesutto-rejects-un-official-criticism-moira deeming/102393306
51. May 20, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-20/victorian-liberal-leader-john-pesutto-moira deeming-supporters/102372424
52. May 14, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-14/ousted-victorian-mp-moira-deeming interview/102344156
53. May 13, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-13/victorian-liberals-moira-deeming-expulsion fallout-john-pesutto/102340006
54. May 12, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-12/victorian-liberal-mps-expel-moira deeming/102341538
55. May 12, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/pm/liberals-instability-in-victoria-and tasmania/102341284
56. May 12, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/worldtoday/controversial-victorian-mp-kicked out-parliamentary-party/102338582
57. May 12, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-12/victorian-liberal-mps-vote-to-expel-moira deeming/102339864
58. May 12, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-12/moira-deeming-expulsion-john-pesutto-liberal party-victoria/102337080
59. May 12, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-12/victorian-liberal-party-to-vote-on-renegade-mp moira-deeming/102336740
60. May 12, 2023
Described as the Let Women Speak rally as well as an anti-transgender rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-12/moira-deeming-liberal-expulsion-motion-john pesutto-live-blog/102331004
61. May 12, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-12/news-in-90-seconds/102336474
62. May 11, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-11/moira-deeming-legal-action-john-pesutto victorian-liberal-party/102334396
63. May 8, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-08/exiled-liberal-mp-moira-deeming-to-face expulsion/102315370
64. May 7, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-07/victorian-liberal-party-divisions-moira-deeming john-pesutto/102313978
65. May 6, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-06/moira-deeming-denies-plans-sue-victorian liberal-party-expulsion/102312462
66. May 6, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-06/liberal-party-infighting-deeming-pesutto crisis/102310906
67. May 5, 2023
Described in introduction text and audio as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/worldtoday/dutton-threatens-intervention-in victoria/102309024
68. May 5, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-05/john-pesutto-moira-deeming-peter-dutton liberal-expulsion/102306918
69. May 5, 2023
Described as that rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-05/exiled-liberal-mp-moira-deeming-takes-legal action-suspension/102306852
70. May 4, 2023
Described in introduction text as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-drive/what-is-happening-inside-the victorian-liberals/102305410
71. May 4, 2023
Described in introduction text and audio as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/pm/liberal-mp-moira-deeming-to-take-legal action-over-suspension/102305500
72. May 4, 2023
Described as an anti-trans rights rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-04/john-pesutto-moira-deeming-liberal-party internal-warfare/102301226
73. May 4, 2023
Described as a rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-04/greg-mirabella-qa-moira-deeming-shouldnt have-attended-rally/102182918
74. Mar 28, 2023
Described in the introduction text as the ‘Let Women Speak’ rally, and in the audio as that rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-mornings/pesutto-says-deeming comments-not-consistent-with-liberal-party/102153960
75. Mar 28, 2023
Described as a controversial rally and the “Let Women Speak” rally. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-28/moira-deeming-liberal-suspension/102152862
76. Mar 28, 2023
Described in introduction text and audio as the Let Women Speak rally. –https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/john-pesutto-deeming not-off-to-a-good-start-/102151250
77. Mar 28, 2023
Described in introduction text and sub-heading to audio as an anti-trans rally.- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-28/victorian-mp-moira-deeming-suspended-for nine-months/102152954
78. Mar 27, 2023
Described in introduction text as in a rally, organised by controversial UK figure, Kellie-Jay Keen, an anti-trans activist associated with the far-right. – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-27/john-pesutto:-%E2%80%9Cthere-could-be consequences-if/102152154
79. Mar 27, 2023
Described in introduction text as a controversial rally. –https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-27/victorian-liberal-mp-moira-deeming suspended/102150430
80. Mar 27, 2023
Described as a controversial rally, and also as the “Let Women Speak” rally. –https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-27/moira-deeming-liberal-vote-on-expulsion-from parliamentary-party/102148216
Reply received on 11.08.25 from Fiona Cameron
Dear Mr Johnsen,
Thank you for your email about various content published by the ABC over the last three years.
Your complaint has been received by the ABC Ombudsman’s Office. The office is separate to and independent of content making areas within the ABC. Our role is to review and, where appropriate, investigate complaints about ABC content concerning the ABC’s editorial standards in accordance with the ABC’s complaints handling process. The editorial standards can be found in the Editorial Policies.
The ABC receives many complaints and applies a proportionate approach to complaint handling. This recognises that not all complaints warrant a detailed response and that some complaints will be noted but will not receive a response.
The ABC Ombudsman’s Office has the discretion to reject a content complaint for investigation including where the complaint is made 3 months from the date the content was first made available. In this case, given the age of the content, we have determined that our office will not investigate the matter.
I do note that my office has had previous occasion to explain that:
Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (also known as Posie Parker) was the organiser of the ‘Let Women Speak’ event. Ms Keen-Minshull is well-known and widely characterised as an anti-trans rights campaigner and activist. The ‘Let Women Speak’ campaign is a world tour organised by Ms Keen-Minshull. Ms Keen-Minshull refers to herself as a ‘trans-exclusionary radical feminist’ and hosts a weekly YouTube program entitled ‘TERF Talk Tuesday’. Many publications around the world refer to Ms Keen-Minshull as anti-trans. Ms Keen-Minshull has expressed in interviews that she does not believe in non-binary gender, will not use people’s preferred pronouns, does not acknowledge that trans women exist, considers trans genderism as a men’s sexual rights movement, calls being transgender a fetish, and does not consider that being transgender is true. Ms Keen-Minshull was using this tour to make a film which promotes her views and cause. In Australia, gender identity is a protected ground of discrimination.
Finally, I also note that several articles acknowledge that the event was “categorised by supporters as a women’s rights event”.
Thank you for your ongoing feedback.
Yours sincerely,
Fiona Cameron
ABC Ombudsman