Tag: 2026
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Failure of Impartiality in Reporting on Sex-Based Rights – Letter to Linton Besser
Dear Linton Besser, I am concerned about the continual mischaracterisation by ABC of women’s rights campaigners as “anti trans”, when in fact we are simply defending our right of association. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-23/lesbian-group-transgender-exemption-federal-court/106375606 Lesbians don’t “want the right to exclude trans women”- they want to assert women’s right of association. The Australian Human Rights Commission on the…
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Erosion of Trust in the ABC – A Tasmanian Perspective
For years, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has partnered with ACON, the leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation, through programs like the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) and its Pride Network. While the ABC insists editorial independence is maintained, this close relationship has fuelled growing concerns about bias, selective reporting, and cultural pressures in newsrooms—particularly on issues…
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Safety and Mental Health Concerns for Girls in the Miss Tasmania Pageant
Why Biological Males Competing Undermines Child Safeguarding and Female Empowerment In February 2026, Mini Miss Pageants announced Lucy Violet Faulkner — a trans-identified man from Geelong, Victoria — as a 2026 Miss Tasmania contestant. The original social media post was quickly removed after strong community backlash. The Tasmanian papers focused heavily on claims of “hatred”…
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Reviewing Amnesty International’s Position on Prostitution: A Survivor-Centred Perspective
Before the formation of Women Speak Tasmania, members were already active in campaigning against the decriminalisation of prostitution and advocating for the rights and safety of survivors. Isla MacGregor played a leading role in Tasmania, working alongside Simone Watson and the Nordic Model Australia Coalition (NorMAC) to promote the Nordic Model. Together, they lobbied policymakers,…
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Where Does Women’s Legal Service Tasmania Stand on Prostitution?
Women Speak Tasmania recently noted that the Women’s Legal Service Tasmania website displays a modified Pride flag incorporating a red umbrella symbol. Many Tasmanians would understandably not recognise its meaning. The red umbrella is not a generic diversity symbol. Internationally, it is the political emblem of the sex-industry legalisation movement and has been used in…
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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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ABC Complaint Referred to the Minister for Communications – Letter to Hon. Rowland
This letter has been sent to the Australian Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, following a formal complaint made to the ABC Ombudsman regarding concerns about accuracy and impartiality in ABC reporting. In light of growing public interest — including Phil Dye’s petition — the correspondence asks the Minister to consider whether the…
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Win for Parental Rights and Free Speech: Celine vs eSafety Commissioner
In a major win for free expression, the Federal Court of Australia handed down a ruling on 18 February 2026 against the eSafety Commissioner, led by Julie Inman Grant. The case involved Sydney mum Celine Baumgarten, who had posted on X (formerly Twitter) questioning the appropriateness of a “queer club” at a Melbourne primary school.…
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Opinion: Culture of Fear, Surveillance and Social Breakdown
The most significant impacts of sex self-ID laws have become increasingly apparent with the breakdown in trust within families and of social cohesion in our communities. This corresponds to an increase in coercion for conformity to ‘group think’ and surveillance for ‘right think’ within our society at large on multiple issues. While many issues today…
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Follow-Up Regarding Submission on Anti-Discrimination Act Reform – Letter to the Attorney General
Letter sent to Tasmania AG Guy Barnett on 16 February 2026 Dear Attorney-General Barnett, Re: Thank you for meeting and submission regarding Anti-Discrimination Act reform We write to thank you for meeting with our delegation on 15 December. We appreciate the time you gave to listen to the concerns of Tasmanian citizens, and we commend…