Equality Tasmania has welcomed Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s commitment not to water down the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act following calls from groups opposed to transgender inclusion.
Women Speak Tasmania has lobbied Tasmanian MPs calling for the Anti-Discrimination Act to be changed to prohibit discrimination on the basis of biological sex, which is narrower than the current ground of gender, and for trans women to be banned from women’s services and sport.
Today, Independent Member for Clark, Kristie Johnston, asked Mr Rockliff in question time if he would support such changes, to which he replied,
“We stand with all Tasmanians, and we’ve got no plans to change the Anti-Discrimination laws.”
Equality Tasmania spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,
“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.”
“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.”
The media release from Kristie Johnston is below.
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Anti-Discrimination Act safe from attack on inclusivity
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.
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.
Best regards
Paul Carter
Media and Communications Advisor
for Kristie Johnston
Independent Member for Clark
0429 959 419
