A decision to cancel a Women Speak Tasmania event at the Burnie Library has escalated into a bitter clash involving claims of political discrimination and the role of public libraries in hosting controversial views.
The group is known for its contentious views on sex and gender, and says it was last year effectively and “permanently banned” from the State Library and Libraries Tasmania’s 46 public libraries across the state after its forums were deemed to be in breach of diversity and inclusion policies.
Previously, Libraries Tasmania had cancelled the group’s booking for a March 2024 event at Burnie Library, on gender-affirming treatments in children, during the state election caretaker period.
Now, Women Speak Tasmania is challenging that cancellation as unlawful and in breach of the Anti Discrimination Act.
The group lodged two complaints with the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner in 2025, alleging Libraries Tasmania had discriminated against it on the basis of political belief and activity.
But the Commissioner rejected the complaints on the basis they did not relate to discrimination or were misconceived.
Libraries Tasmania has denied the allegations of discrimination throughout, arguing the cancellation came about because of policy considerations and because it needed to remain apolitical during caretaker mode.
Now, Women Speak Tasmania has asked the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to review the Commissioner’s decision.
It previously sought an order for Libraries Tasmania to hand over its internal correspondence, emails and policies related to its decision to cancel the Burnie event.
Tribunal senior member Robert Winter, in his newly-published decision, set aside a summons for Libraries Tasmania to produce the material, finding they were not relevant to the narrower question of whether the Commissioner was correct in rejecting the complaints.
The tribunal will next consider whether the Commissioner’s rejection of the complaints should be upheld or overturned.
The Women Speak Tasmania forums, held at different venues across the state including the Hobart Town Hall and the Devonport RSL, have repeatedly sparked controversy over trans issues and the limits of free speech.
by Amber Wilson
Source: The Mercury
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