Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has said his government has “no plans” to amend the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act, following lobbying from Women Speak Tasmania (WST).
WST describes itself as a secular group established to lobby government and “share research and information on a broad range of women’s rights issues,” including “female-only spaces, services, groups and facilities.”
The organisation has adopted Women’s Declaration International’s (WDI) Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights. WDI claims young women are owed reassurances “that they do not have to adopt the obfuscating language of gender ideology” and advocates for women’s “sex-based rights”, which excludes transgender women and gender diverse people.
Earlier this month, WST called on their social media followers to write to federal, state and local MPs and political candidates and demand they sign the trans-exclusive Women’s Pledge Australia, which commits to “uphold clear, sex-based protections for women and girls by restoring biological definitions in law, defending female-only spaces and services (including sport), and ensuring public policy remains evidence-based rather than ideological.”
Since the pledge campaign launched, the Federal Court of Australia dismissed an appeal from Sal Grover and her company, Giggle for Girls, over findings they had indirectly discriminated against transgender woman Roxanne Tickle when she was removed from their social media app.
A successful cross-appeal led to the finding that Tickle had been directly discriminated against, leading to a total compensation of $20,000.
Following that decision last week, organisations and individuals, including the Australian Human Rights Commission, Equality Australia and noted academic Professor Paula Gerber, have praised the Federal Court’s decision as a resounding message that Australia does not accept discrimination against transgender people.
Today, in light of the petition and the Federal Court decision, Premier Jeremy Rockliff was addressed by Independent Member for Clark Kristie Johnston in Question Time, asking if he would support the changes proposed by WST.
“We stand with all Tasmanians, and we’ve got no plans to change the Anti-Discrimination laws,” Premier Rockliff said.
Equality Tasmania joins Johnston in welcoming commitment
Johnston has responded to Rockliff’s answer, welcoming the Premier’s commitment and condemning WST’s campaign.
“I welcome the Premier’s commitment to preserve our Anti-Discrimination Act, as forces lobby to change it and undermine Tasmania’s proud inclusive culture,” Johnston said.
“Anti-trans group Women Speak Tasmania want to weaken our Anti-Discrimination Act. They want to allow discrimination against trans and gender diverse people.
“The group this month asked MPs to sign a pledge to ban trans women from single-sex space, services and sports. This would be a radical change from decades of inclusive practices in Tasmania. It flies in the face of strong support for inclusion by Tasmania’s women’s service providers and community sporting organisations.
“So today in parliament I asked the Premier if after this lobbying he still supported Tasmania’s strong and effective Anti-Discrimination Act? And does he stand with trans, gender diverse people, and support their full inclusion in Tasmanian life?
“”We stand with all Tasmanians, and we’ve got no plans to change the Anti-Discrimination laws,” Jeremy Rockliff told parliament in response to my question – Hear, hear.”
Spokesperson for advocacy group Equality Tasmania, Rodney Croome, also celebrated Rockliff’s commitment not to water down the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act.
“Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act has protected trans and gender diverse people from unfair treatment for almost thirty years without the sky falling in, so we see no reason it should be changed now,” Croome said.
“Tasmania’s women’s services and sports groups have included trans women for many years, exposing as false the claim that trans women pose some kind of threat to other women.”
“Prohibiting discrimination on the narrow ground of biological sex would provide less protection for women and girls than the current ground of gender, so we oppose it.”
“We welcome Premier Rockliff’s sensible decision to keep the Anti-Discrimination Act intact and thereby ensure all Tasmanians are equally protected from unfair treatment.”
