Women Speak Tasmania

Letters to the Editor

“Voices That Challenge, Letters That Inspire.”
  • Injustice to Victims
    In response to Craig Thomson’s opinion piece “The dangerous appeal of naming and shaming sex offenders and vigilantism” (The Examiner, 29 March 2026), I must disagree. Leniency to the criminal is injustice to the victim. Tasmania’s approach to paedophiles remains… Read more: Injustice to Victims
  • Equality in Law
    Owen Sinclair’s article (19 March 2026) on Daryl Russell’s repeated homophobic abuse in rural Winnaleah — including slurs, property damage, and threats disrupting daily life — is deeply concerning. It highlights the real harm prejudice inflicts on individuals due to… Read more: Equality in Law
  • Moratorium Needed in Gender Transitions
    The state election campaign saw renewed debate about ‘gender-affirming care’ in children. Recent international developments highlight major concerns about the ‘gender-affirming’ approach. Bipartisan consensus in many countries shows major changes are needed in paediatric gender medicine. The 2024 UK Cass… Read more: Moratorium Needed in Gender Transitions
  • Suicide Narrative Causes More Harm
    In her opinion piece, outgoing Working it Out CEO Lynn Jarvis (Mercury 23 January 2025) outlines what appear to be alarming statistics on suicidality in the so-called LGBTIQA+ community. However, if the survey referred to was conducted online and the… Read more: Suicide Narrative Causes More Harm
  • Age and Agency
    The proposed federal social media minimum age legislation will prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media accounts, citing their increased vulnerability to platform-related harms. While the Act does not delve into the physiological basis basis for this vulnerability, it… Read more: Age and Agency
  • Pseudoscience & the Olympic fiasco
    Before the Sydney Olympics in 2000 athletes underwent genetic testing. A simple cheek swab would ensure everyone was competing in their respective male and female categories. Any issue with intersex athletes was dealt with on a case to case basis.… Read more: Pseudoscience & the Olympic fiasco
  • Inquiry Into Sex Self ID after Olympics Fiasco
    Tasmanians will no doubt be interested in the IOCs turning a blind eye to the International Boxing Organisation’s warning about the serious problems with allowing males to compete in women’s sports. While the Olympics fiasco concerns a person with a… Read more: Inquiry Into Sex Self ID after Olympics Fiasco
  • The Cass Review significance
    Rodney Croome has failed to grasp the significance of the Cass Review ratings of gender clinics in Australia outlined in Ben Seeder’s important investigative article (Examiner 16 June 2024). Dr. Cass alarming ratings on the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne have… Read more: The Cass Review significance
  • First, do not harm
    I could not agree more with Rodney Croome (Mercury 17 April) that ‘no one should have to endure being told they are fundamentally broken’.  But, equally, I would have thought that it is no great leap for Rodney Croome to… Read more: First, do not harm
  • Tickle vs Giggle
    On Tuesday 9 April 2024 an extremely important court case for women in Australia and all over the world started in the Federal Court in Sydney. It is the first case to arise which tests the change to the law… Read more: Tickle vs Giggle
  • The Importance of freedom of speech 
    Equality Tasmania calls journalist Benjamin Seeder article in the Examiner bias, putting in doubt his journalistic integrity when the opposite could not be more true. At this moment when many are afraid to raise their voices for fear of offending… Read more: The Importance of freedom of speech 
  • Freedom of speech IS a responsibility
    Ben Seeder (Examiner March 31) has successfully covered an issue that all too often is not reported by Tasmanian media. After all, journalism is about having the tenacity and courage to report fairly and impartially in the public interest, even… Read more: Freedom of speech IS a responsibility
  • Free Speech Essential in a Democracy
    I wish to express my concern regarding a recent letter to the Editor by Equality Tasmania which criticises journalist Ben Seeder.  In a democratic society, free speech is not only a fundamental right but also underpins our democracy. It must be said that regarding the… Read more: Free Speech Essential in a Democracy
  • A feminist critique
    International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on this date to acknowledge the gains made by women in their struggle for rights. It is a time to reflect on the challenges ahead of us in these times of global uncertainty.… Read more: A feminist critique
  • Women need voice
    The debate over the religious freedom Bill was poorly timed as it should have followed on from a Bill on amendments to the Federal Sex Discrimination Act to properly define the definition of woman and man. Fortunately, Senator Claire Chandler’s… Read more: Women need voice
  • Attack on Women’s Rights
    LABOR and Green’s proposals for transgender law reform are an attack on women’s and girls’ rights. Any person would be able to claim they identify as a woman, regardless of appearance or anything else, and enter girls’ or women-only spaces… Read more: Attack on Women’s Rights