Women Speak Tasmania welcomes the strong leadership shown by Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro, who has announced that born males will no longer be placed in women’s prisons. The NT is now the first jurisdiction in Australia to take decisive action to protect the safety and dignity of female inmates.
Chief Minister Finocchiaro’s clear statement— “There should be no men in women’s prisons, full stop” — comes after reports of female prisoners in South Australia and Victoria being sexually assaulted or placed at risk by violent male offenders identifying as women. These shocking cases have highlighted the urgent need for reform across all states and territories.
Women’s Safety Must Come First
Women Speak Tasmania has written to Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff, calling on his government to follow the NT’s lead and introduce a clear, sex-based policy ensuring that only women — female by birth — are housed in women’s prisons.
In our letter, we emphasised that Tasmania should not wait for tragedy before acting. Women in custody are among the most vulnerable members of society, and they have the same right to safety and dignity as all women. Placing males in women’s facilities — regardless of how they identify — exposes these women to unacceptable risk.
The Tasmanian Department of Justice is currently developing a Trans and Gender Diverse Prisoner Policy. However, it is deeply concerning that no women’s organisations appear to have been consulted, despite the obvious implications for women’s safety. Policy development must not be driven by ideology but by evidence, ethics, and basic duty of care.
A Practical and Compassionate Solution
Protecting women does not mean disregarding the needs of trans-identifying males. We support the establishment of dedicated or special accommodation within the men’s system for these prisoners, ensuring their individual needs can be met without compromising women’s rights or safety.
This approach respects everyone’s safety while upholding the integrity of women’s spaces — a balance that the NT government has now achieved through clear leadership.
Time for Tasmania to Act
As Dr. Elizabeth Caballero, Director of Women Speak Tasmania, stated in our media release:
“This is commonsense leadership. Women in prison deserve to be free from male violence and sexual assault. It’s not about ideology — it’s about protecting women.”
Women Speak Tasmania urges the Tasmanian Government to show similar leadership. By taking decisive action now, Premier Rockliff can ensure Tasmania remains a state that values both justice and the safety of women — including those behind bars.
Other News:
NT Chief Minister Finocchiaro bans transgender women in female prisons. The Australian. 13.10.2025 –https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/nt-chief-minister-finocchiaro-bans-transgender-women-in-female-prisons/news-story/db44d5c9930d550f527b265e46ac6d30
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