Women Speak Tasmania (WST) congratulates Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro for her decisive action to ban transgender women who are born male from being housed in women’s prisons. This landmark policy prioritises the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of women in custody.
Chief Minister Finocchiaro’s statement that “there should be no men in women’s prisons, full stop” reflects a commonsense approach to protecting female inmates from the serious risk of violence and sexual assault. WST notes recent cases in South Australia and Victoria where women were sexually assaulted or placed at risk by male offenders housed in female facilities.
Dr. Elizabeth Caballero, Director of WST, said:
“We commend Ms Finocchiaro for putting women’s safety first. This is exactly the kind of clear, protective policy that should be standard across Australia. Women in prisons, like women in the community, deserve to be free from the threat of male violence.”
WST calls on the Tasmanian Premier and Attorney General to follow the Northern Territory’s lead and implement a ban on born males being placed in women’s prisons in Tasmania. We urge the Tasmanian Government to consult meaningfully with women’s sex- based rights groups and safety advocates to ensure policies reflect the realities of female inmates’ vulnerability and maintain the integrity of women’s facilities.
“It’s not about ideology; it’s about basic safety and justice for women,” Dr. Caballero said.
Women Speak Tasmania looks forward to a swift and decisive response from the Tasmanian Government to safeguard women in our prisons.
-ENDS-
For Further Information contact Dr Elizabeth Caballero: [email protected]