Tag: 2026
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AHRC President Faces Questions Over Youth Gender Care and Women’s Rights
On 29 April 2026, Hugh de Kretser delivered his inaugural Australian Human Rights Assessment address at the National Press Club in Canberra amid growing controversy surrounding the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Equal Identities: A human rights review of the experiences of trans and gender diverse people in Australia, released in March 2026. The report has…
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Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion
Women Speak Tasmania has lodged a submission to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion under Term of Reference (d), which examines ways to strengthen social cohesion in Australia and counter ideologically and religiously motivated extremism. Our submission argues that social cohesion depends on clear, proportionate, and equal legal protections applied consistently across all…
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Feedback Regarding Northern Recreation Hub Segment – Email to ABC Northern Tasmania
Email sent to ABC Northern Tasmania Breakfast on 29 April 2026 Dear ABC Northern Tasmania Breakfast team, I am writing regarding the recent segment on the all-gender toilets and change facilities at the Northern Recreation Hub in Mowbray featuring Mayor Matthew Garwood. While the segment acknowledged that there are strong community views on both sides…
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Surrogacy in Tasmania and the National Push for Abolition: Our Voice in the ALRC Review
Tasmania’s Surrogacy Act 2012 was designed with the best interests of the child in mind. It permits only altruistic (non-commercial) gestational surrogacy, requires written agreements, judicial oversight through parentage orders, and residency rules for both surrogates and intended parents. Yet even this tightly regulated framework cannot eliminate the inherent risks of physical, psychological and economic…
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Tasmania’s Mental Health Strategy Must Put Women and Girls First
The Tasmanian Government is currently developing its new mental health strategy, Rethink and Beyond 2026–2031 — an opportunity to build a system that is genuinely trauma-informed, evidence-based, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable Tasmanians. Women Speak Tasmania has made a formal submission to the consultation process, focusing specifically on the mental health needs of…
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Tasmanian Mental Health Strategy – Rethink and Beyond (2026–2031)
The Tasmanian Government is currently developing the next Tasmanian Mental Health Strategy – Rethink and Beyond (2026–2031). Women Speak Tasmania has made a formal submission to this important consultation. Our submission is based directly on the AAWAA UN OHCHR submission on mental health and human rights (October 2024) and on Tasmania-specific statistics, particularly around male…
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APS Gender Care Statement Sparks Debate Over Evidence and Guidance
Australia’s peak body for psychologists, the Australian Psychological Society (APS), has released a new position statement titled “Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of transgender and gender diverse people.” The document was presented as an updated, evidence-informed position on psychological care for transgender and gender-diverse Australians. However, its release has prompted criticism from some clinicians,…
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APS board member accused of ‘intimidation’ after questioning mother of detransitioned son
On 26 April 2026, The Australian published a report by Rachel Baxendale examining a complaint made against Australian Psychological Society board member Andrew Chua by the mother of a detransitioned young man. The article reports that the mother, whose son medically transitioned with hormones at age 18 before later deciding he was not transgender, contacted…
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Request to Remove “I Am Jazz” from Tasmanian Schools – Letter to the Tasmanian Premier
Letter sent to Tasmania Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, on 19.03.26 Dear Premier, I have written to Jo Palmer, as Minister for Education, regarding the Tasmanian Department of Education’s decision to include the book, I Am Jazz, on the reading list for children aged 11 to 12, or any children, really. I also send it to you…