Women Speak Tasmania

Tag: WST

  • Robin Banks Attempts to No-Platform Women Speak Tasmania

    —

    in

    Women Speak Tasmania is scheduled to speak at a Human Rights Week event for the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) on 12 December next. On 30 November, former Anti-discrimination Commissioner, Robin Banks, emailed WILPF with the following … Ms Banks’ statements clearly amount to vilification of the Women Speak Tasmania speakers, and…

  • Attack on Freedom of Speech

    —

    in

    In the article: Attack on Freedom of Speech (also published under the headline Women say they’re being stopped from speaking at a forum over opposition to Tasmania transgender laws) by Matthew Denholm The Australian reported on a dispute concerning Women Speak Tasmania’s invitation to speak at a Human Rights Week event organised by the Tasmanian…

  • Nature such a reassuring obstacle to opting gender

    —

    in

    Today, in an opinion article titled “Nature Such a Reassuring Obstacle to Opt-In Gender” (26 November 2018), columnist Jennifer Oriel criticised proposed Tasmanian reforms that would remove the automatic recording of sex on birth certificates and allow individuals to change the sex recorded on official documents through self-identification. Oriel argued that biological sex is an…

  • Fears over impact of Tasmanian gender laws on schools and women’s services

    —

    in

    Today, in an article for The Australian titled “Fears Over Impact of Tasmanian Gender Laws on Schools and Women’s Services” (23 November 2018), journalist Matthew Denholm reported on the passage of significant transgender law reforms through Tasmania’s House of Assembly. The reforms included provisions allowing people aged 16 and over to change the sex recorded…

  • Labor and the Greens ‘Win’, But Democracy Loses

    —

    in

    When we go to the ballot box and vote, we have an expectation that those we elect will at least try to represent our interests. We assume that any debate in parliament, particularly if the issue is contentious, will be as well-informed as it can possibly be. On 20 November, we saw Labor and the…

  • The Trans Rights Debate – Who’s Peddling the ‘Hate’?

    —

    in

    Emily Baker’s recent article in the Mercury titled ‘Penis stickers labelled hateful: Anger at anti-transgender campaign’ quoted Transforming Tasmania representative, Martine Delaney’s, opinion of the stickers. Delaney said the stickers expressed a view ‘actively promoted by only extremely conservative Christian groups and a very small percentage of women – TERFS (trans exclusionary radical feminists) –…

  • Gender hate law sparks free speech fear

    —

    in

    Today, in an article for The Australian titled “Gender Hate Law Sparks Free Speech Fear” (9 November 2018), journalist Matthew Denholm reported on proposed amendments to Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act that would extend protections against hate speech to include “gender identity” and “gender expression.” The article explained that the proposed changes, put forward by the Labor…

  • Greens Label Anti-Transgender Stickers Hateful

    —

    in

    The debate over gender markers on birth certificates has ramped up with anti-transgender stickers described as “hateful and hurtful” appearing throughout Hobart. The stickers are shaped like penises and carry the phrase “Women don’t have penises” Transforming Tasmania spokeswoman Martine Delaney said it was clear the stickers had been distributed by groups looking to deny…

  • Transforming Tasmania Shouldn’t Shut Down Birth Certificate Debate

    —

    in

    Transforming Tasmania’s proposed changes to birth registration and anti-discrimination law in Tasmania are radical amendments that shouldn’t be rushed through parliament. Labor and the Greens need to support the Government’s referral of those amendments to the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute so the Tasmanian people can have their say. These amendments, if they become law, will…

  • Labor and the Greens Under Pressure Over Birth Certificate Changes

    —

    in

    Women Speak Tasmania is hearing from many women across Tasmania who are outraged at Labor and the Greens attempt to fast track changes to birth certificates at the behest of Transforming Tasmania. Never before has the community witnessed such unashamed fast tracking of legislation, with trans rights activists insisting the matter was broadly discussed, with…