Tag: politics
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Opinion: Women Are Not “Anti-Trans” for Defending Sex-Based Rights
This week Women Speak Tasmania found itself discussed in Tasmania Parliament and labelled in media coverage as part of an “anti-transgender” campaign. The reason? We sent an email to Tasmanian parliamentarians inviting them to support the Women’s Pledge Australia and consider reforms to strengthen women’s sex-based protections under Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act. Women Speak Tasmania is…
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Tasmania rejects push to change discrimination laws targeting transgender people
In an article titled “Tasmania rejects push to change discrimination laws targeting transgender people”, journalist David Killick reports on the Tasmanian Government’s response to advocacy calling for reforms to the state’s anti-discrimination laws. The article focuses on a campaign urging Members of Parliament to sign a pledge supporting changes that would allow the exclusion of…
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Invitation to Sign the Women’s Pledge Australia and Restore Sex-Based Rights for Women – Email to Tasmanians MPs
Email sent to all Members of the House of Assembly and the Legislative Council on 16 May 2026. Dear Tasmanian Parliamentarian, On 15 May 2026 the Full Federal Court of Australia delivered its judgment in Giggle for Girls Pty Ltd v Tickle. The court ruled that excluding a trans-identified male from a women-only app on…
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Campaign Launch: Restoring Sex-Based Protections for Tasmanian Women and Girls
Women Speak Tasmania has officially launched our campaign to restore clear, sex-based protections for women and girls in Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act 1998. Currently, the Act protects “gender” and “gender identity” — but does not include a clear, standalone protection for biological sex (male and female). This creates legal uncertainty and risks undermining the spaces, services,…
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Analysis of CEDAW: What It Is, What It Means for Women, and Why It Matters in Australia
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) What Is CEDAW? The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is often described as the international bill of rights for women. Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979 and in force since 1981, CEDAW legally obliges…
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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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Tasmanian Politicians Back Women’s Pledge to Protect Sex-Based Rights
Women Speak Tasmania launched Women’s Pledge Australia, a state-wide initiative calling on political representatives to commit to safeguarding the sex-based rights of women and girls. The pledge has been formally sent to Tasmanian state parliamentarians, as well as to members of local government, with a clear and urgent request: stand with women and girls by…
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Support the Women’s Pledge: Protect Women’s Sex-Based Rights in Law – Letter to Tasmania State Politicians
Dear candidate, I am writing to urge you to support the Women’s Pledge initiated by Women Speak Tasmania, a campaign calling for the restoration of biological sex as a protected legal characteristic in Australian anti-discrimination legislation. This issue has now been recognised at the international level, with the latest report to the UN Human Rights…
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Mercury Reportage about Dr Julie Sladden – Letter to Robert Inglis
Dear Robert, I read your story in The Mercury today “Controversial Liberal candidate Julie Sladden should be dismissed, Labor says“ Did you read copy of Women Speak Tasmania’s Media Release sent to the Mercury yesterday or did it not reach you in time for your story? You will see from our Media Release the context…
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Holding MPs Accountable: Women Speak Tasmania Visits Electorate Offices
On 28 April, Women Speak Tasmania members took action in Hobart, visiting the electorate offices of our federal representatives ahead of the coming election. Our goal was simple: to see whether our elected officials are prepared to answer the most basic of questions—what is a woman? Holding Politicians Accountable We began at the office of…