Email sent to Craig Herbert, editor of The Hobart Mercury – 25 February 2026
Dear Craig,
I am writing on behalf of Women Speak Tasmania regarding your article published on 2 February 2026, titled “Women Speak Tasmania claims discrimination over canned library forum.”
We were concerned to see the article report on legal proceedings involving our organisation without any attempt to contact Women Speak Tasmania for comment prior to publication. As the direct party alleging discrimination and challenging a decision of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner before the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, we should reasonably have been given an opportunity to clarify our position.
The article characterises our organisation and activities in a manner that readers may interpret as anti-trans. Women Speak Tasmania is, in fact, a volunteer-led women’s rights organisation advocating for the safety, dignity, and sex-based rights of women and girls, as well as safeguarding and parental involvement in matters affecting children. Without our input, readers were presented with a one-sided account of a matter in which we are centrally involved.
The description of our organisation as holding “contentious views on sex and gender” and the framing of our forums primarily as controversial omits our stated purpose and the basis of our legal action, namely concerns about political discrimination and procedural fairness.
By not seeking comment directly from Women Speak Tasmania for the purposes of the article, the report risks misleading readers about both the nature of our organisation and the substance of the legal proceedings currently before TASCAT.
We therefore respectfully request:
• Publication of a correction noting that Women Speak Tasmania was not contacted for comment prior to publication
• A reasonable opportunity to provide a right of reply setting out our position
• Consideration of amending the online version of the article to include our response
We would be pleased to provide a brief statement for publication and to assist your journalists with accurate background information in future reporting, particularly regarding the TASCAT matter which will shortly proceed to public hearings.
We hope this matter can be resolved promptly and appropriately.
Kind regards,
Dr Elizabeth Caballero
Director, Women Speak Tasmania
Reply from Craig Herbert – 26 February 2026
Dear Elizabeth,
It is not practice to seek comment from concerned parties when a matter is before a court or tribunal. The article was a straight report about the matter before TASCAT and we’ll be happy to report further proceedings and and your responses before the Tribunal.
We will not be publishing a “correction”, reply outside of Tribunal proceedings or amendments to the online article outside of further developments directly concerning the matter before the Tribunal.
Kind regards,
Craig Herbert
Editor The Hobart Mercury