Women Speak Tasmania

Tag: policy

  • Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion

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    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…

  • New Federal “Hate” Laws Risk Silencing Women’s Advocacy

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    Women Speak Tasmania (WST) has lodged a formal submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security opposing the Exposure Draft Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026.  While WST unequivocally condemns antisemitism, religious hatred, violence and genuine extremism, our submission argues that the draft Bill is over-broad, poorly defined, and vulnerable to misuse,…

  • Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security – Draft: Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026

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    1. Introduction Women Speak Tasmania (WST) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (the Committee) regarding the Exposure Draft of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026. WST is a volunteer-led, non-partisan women’s organisation based in Tasmania. We advocate for the protection of women’s sex-based…

  • Analysis and Child-Rights Implications of The Queensland Hormone Treatment Review

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    Background and Scope of the Review The Queensland Government commissioned an independent review into the use of puberty blockers (Stage 1) and cross-sex hormones (Stage 2) for children and adolescents within the Queensland public health system. The scope of the review extended beyond narrow clinical questions. It examined: The review was therefore not an ideological…

  • Parents are the First Line of Defence in Safeguarding Children

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    Parents are not bystanders in child protection — they are the first line of defence against harm. The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, endorsed by all Australian governments, make this clear: families hold the primary responsibility for their children’s safety, wellbeing, and moral development. A genuine child-safe culture requires more than policies on paper.…

  • Analysis of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations

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    Here is an analysis of the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2018), focusing on parental rights, education sector obligations, and how these can be embedded in Tasmanian policy to strengthen transparency, safeguarding, and family participation. 1. Core Legal and Ethical Basis The document is a national framework endorsed by all…

  • Sue Hickey’s Vote Fails Victims of Child Sexual Abuse

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    Women Speak Tasmania was disappointed to see mandatory sentencing for serious child sexual assaults voted down last week when Liberal Speaker, Sue Hickey, used her casting vote to oppose the Sentencing Amendment (Mandatory Sentencing for Serious Sexual Offences Against Children) Bill 2018. ‘We understand the Government has been guided by the Tasmanian Sentencing Advisory Council’s…

  • Labor, the Greens and Sue Hickey Pass ‘Seriously Flawed’ Laws

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    Labor, the Greens and Liberal Speaker, Sue Hickey, failed to heed the advice of legal and academic experts, including the Solicitor-General and former Tasmanian Bar Association President, Chris Gunson, and today passed radical amendments to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act and the Anti-Discrimination Act. Women Speak Tasmania Spokesperson, Bronwyn Williams, said – ‘Many…

  • Women’s Groups Call on PM Morrison and Bill Shorten to Support Parliamentary Inquiry into Transgender Laws

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    International Women’s Day (IWD – 8 March 2019) is recognised as an International day to remember and centre women’s rights and achievements. A coalition of women’s organisations has written to the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, calling on them to establish a national inquiry into the expected and unexpected consequences of…

  • Community Consultation Essential for Transforming Tasmania Proposals 

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    ‘Women Speak Tasmania is calling on Transforming Tasmania to justify their claims that radical amendments to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1999 (Tas) are of no particular concern to the community at large’, said Women Speak Tasmania spokesperson, Bronwyn Williams. Transforming Tasmania spokesperson, Martine Delaney, says “there has been virtually no public concern…