The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 is Australia’s primary federal law intended to protect women from discrimination. However, amendments made in 2013 significantly weakened these protections. The Act now includes broad provisions relating to gender identity without maintaining a clear legal definition of “sex”. It also fails to define “woman” and “man” in biological terms.
This lack of clear definitions has created serious legal ambiguity. As a result, women’s sex-based rights — including access to single-sex spaces, services, sports, and opportunities — are increasingly being undermined.
Our goal
To amend the Sex Discrimination Act to include clear definitions that:
- “Sex” means biological sex (male or female); and
- “Woman” means an adult human female; and
- “Man” means an adult human male.
This reform is essential to restore meaningful protection for women’s rights, safety, fairness, and dignity under federal law.
Take Action
- Download and send our template letter to your Federal MP and Senators.
- Ask your representatives to support amendments that define sex as biological sex.
- Share the Women’s Pledge with your local federal members and ask them to sign it.
Templates
We have prepared ready-to-use templates to help you contact your federal and state politicians. These letters and messages focus on protecting women’s sex-based rights and holding elected representatives accountable.
You can copy and adapt the templates below to send to your local Member of Parliament, Senators, or State MPs.
Template 1 – Formal Letter/Email to Federal MP / Senator
Subject: Australia’s Obligations Under CEDAW and the Need to Restore Biological Sex in the Sex Discrimination Act
Dear [MP’s Name / Senator’s Name],
I am writing to you as a constituent regarding Australia’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to which Australia became a signatory in 1983.
CEDAW requires State Parties to eliminate discrimination against women in all its forms. Central to this obligation is the recognition and protection of women on the basis of their biological sex. The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 was introduced to give effect to Australia’s CEDAW commitments.
However, subsequent amendments have significantly weakened the legal protection of biological sex. The Act now prioritises gender identity without maintaining a clear definition of sex. It also fails to define “woman” and “man” in biological terms. This omission has created serious legal ambiguity and has allowed gender identity to override sex-based rights in many areas, including single-sex spaces, services, sports, and prisons.
Without a clear definition of sex as biological sex (male or female), the original purpose of the Sex Discrimination Act is being undermined. Women and girls are increasingly losing access to the single-sex spaces, services, sports, and opportunities that CEDAW was designed to protect.
I respectfully ask you to support legislative reform to amend the Sex Discrimination Act to include a clear definition that:
- “Sex” means biological sex; and
- “Woman” and “man” are defined accordingly.
This reform is necessary to restore the integrity of the Act and to ensure Australia meets its international obligations under CEDAW.
I would appreciate your response outlining your position on this issue and whether you are prepared to support such amendments.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Suburb/Town, State]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number – optional]
Template 2 – Letter/Email Focus on Giggle v Tickle Case
Subject: The Giggle v Tickle Case Shows Why the Sex Discrimination Act Must Define Sex as Biological
Dear [MP’s Name / Senator’s Name],
I am writing to you about the recent Federal Court decision in Giggle v Tickle, which highlights the serious problems caused by the lack of a clear definition of sex in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984.
Giggle for Girls is a social media app created as a safe space for women. Its founder, Sall Grover, blocked a biological male (who identifies as a woman) from the platform. The Federal Court ruled that this constituted unlawful discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
This decision effectively forces women-only services to accept biological males if they identify as women. It demonstrates how the current Sex Discrimination Act — which fails to define “sex” as biological sex and does not clearly define “woman” and “man” — is being used to remove women’s sex-based rights.
Women are now at risk of losing single-sex spaces, services, and opportunities not because of deliberate policy, but because the law no longer provides clear protection based on biological sex.
I am asking you to support urgent reform of the Sex Discrimination Act to include a clear definition that “sex” means biological sex, and that “woman” and “man” are defined accordingly. Without this reform, cases like Giggle v Tickle will continue to erode women’s rights.
I would appreciate your response outlining your position on this issue.
Thank you for your time.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Suburb/Town, State]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number – optional]
Template 3 – Call to Improve the SDA + Sign the Women’s Pledge
Subject: Support Women’s Sex-Based Rights – Reform the Sex Discrimination Act and Sign the Women’s Pledge
Dear [MP’s Name / Senator’s Name],
I am writing to ask for your support in protecting women’s sex-based rights in Australian law.
The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 was created to protect women from discrimination on the basis of their biological sex. However, the Act currently lacks a clear legal definition of “sex”, “woman”, and “man”. This has created serious ambiguity and allowed gender identity to override women’s sex-based rights in many areas, including single-sex spaces, services, and sport.
Recent court decisions, such as Giggle v Tickle, have shown how the current law is being used to undermine women’s single-sex rights. Without reform, these problems will continue to grow.
I am asking you to take two important steps:
- Support legislative reform of the Sex Discrimination Act to include a clear definition that “sex” means biological sex, and that “woman” and “man” are defined accordingly.
- Sign the Women’s Pledge Australia, which calls on elected representatives to uphold clear, sex-based protections for women and girls.
You can view and sign the Pledge here:
Women’s Pledge Australia- https://womenspeak.au/womens-pledge/
Women’s rights, safety, fairness, and dignity depend on sex being clearly recognised and protected in law. I believe these two actions would demonstrate your commitment to women and girls in Australia.
I would appreciate your response outlining your position and whether you are willing to take these steps.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Suburb/Town, State]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number – optional]