Category: Government and Legislation
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Reforming the Anti-Discrimination Act: Why We Asked the Attorney-General to Add “Sex” to the Law
On 15 December 2025, Women Speak Tasmania met with the Tasmanian Attorney-General, the Hon. Guy Barnett MP, to discuss a matter we believe is fundamental to the safety, dignity and legal recognition of women and girls in this state. At that meeting we formally presented our submission calling for reform of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998…
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How Tasmania’s Sex Self-ID Laws Were Passed: A Timeline of Events, Key Players, and Missing Voices
Tasmania’s “sex self-identification” reforms – introduced between 2018 and 2019 – fundamentally reshaped how sex and gender are recognised in law. They also triggered one of the most significant debates on women’s rights, safeguarding, and democratic process that our state has ever seen. Women Speak Tasmania has been involved in this debate from the beginning.…
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Women Speak Tasmania Discusses Community Engagement with Burnie Mayor
Women Speak Tasmania recently met with Mayor Brumby to discuss community engagement and social inclusion policy. During the meeting, Mayor Brumby made it clear that she does not want Burnie to be seen as a “bigoted city.” We raised concerns about the Burnie City Council’s decision to establish an LGBTIQA+ Advisory Group, which will guide…
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Advocating for the Repeal of the Sex Self-ID laws: Presentation of our Dossier to the Attorney-General
On January 20, 2025, Women Speak Tasmania members presented a comprehensive Dossier to the Tasmanian Attorney-General, Guy Barnett, detailing the adverse impacts of Tasmania’s sex self-identification laws on women, girls, families, and LGB individuals. Key Findings of the Dossier The dossier highlighted several critical concerns: Advocacy for Legislative Reform In light of these findings, WST…
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Restoring Biological Reality in Tasmanian Law: Ivan Dean’s Amendments
The Justice and Related Legislation (Marriage Amendments) Bill 2018 – Amendments by Ivan Dean aimed to roll back Tasmania’s radical gender reforms and restore clarity, honesty, and fairness in law. What the Amendments Do Why This Matters Tasmania’s gender reforms replaced biological truth with ideology, leaving women and children vulnerable: Dean’s amendments restore common sense…
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Tasmania’s Conversion Practices Bill 2024: A Threat to Evidence-Based Care for Children
The Tasmanian Government is planning to introduced the Justice Miscellaneous (Conversion Practices) Bill 2024, framing it as a measure to end harmful “conversion therapy.” While no one disputes the need to prevent coercive practices aimed at erasing sexual orientation, this Bill goes much further. By extending its reach to gender identity, it risks creating a…