Women Speak Tasmania

Misleading Terminology and Lack of Balance in Rodney Croome Segment – Complaint to ABC

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Email sent to ABC Hobart on 21 May 2026

Dear ABC Hobart Breakfast Team,

I am writing to formally complain about the segment aired on 21 May 2026 featuring Rodney Croome discussing proposed changes to Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act.

1. Misleading terminology (“biological gender”) The discussion used the term “biological gender.” This is scientifically inaccurate and likely to confuse listeners. In standard scientific, medical, and legal usage:

  • Sex is biological (male or female, based on chromosomes, gametes, and reproductive development).
  • Gender is widely understood as a social or personal construct.

The actual debate concerns adding protections based on biological sex. Using “biological gender” misrepresents the issue and is misleading on a public broadcaster. I hope this was unintentional.

2. Lack of balance and right of reply The segment discussed legislation and a public petition calling for biological sex to be explicitly protected in Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act 1998, in order to safeguard single-sex spaces, services, and fair sport for women and girls.

Only Rodney Croome’s viewpoint was presented. No representative from Women Speak Tasmania (the group behind the petition) or any women’s rights perspective was included for balance. This allowed several misleading or contested claims to go unchallenged, including:

  • The claim of “almost 30 years” of transgender (gender identity) protections — these were only added in 2013.
  • The assertion that biological sex testing (e.g. cheek swab / SRY gene test) is “quite invasive” — this is a simple, non-invasive test now used by World Athletics.
  • Claims of “no problems” and “no disadvantage to women,” which dismiss the concerns of many female athletes and service users.

As a man, Mr Croome cannot speak authoritatively on female experiences in single-sex spaces. Presenting only his ideological perspective on this important legislative issue does not meet ABC standards of impartiality and balance.

I hope ABC will:

  • Acknowledge this complaint.
  • Ensure future coverage of this issue includes balanced viewpoints from all sides.
  • Consider a follow-up segment with a women’s rights perspective.

This is a significant legislative issue affecting women and girls in Tasmania. The public deserves accurate terminology and fair representation of all sides.

Thank you for your attention. I look forward to your response.

Dr Elizabeth Caballero

President, Women Speak Tasmania

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