Tag: 2026
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In the Name of the Child: Melbourne Conference Examines the Harms of Surrogacy
On 21–22 August 2026, the Association Representing Mothers Separated by Adoption (ARMS) hosted a two-day national conference, In the Name of the Child: The Perils of Surrogate Motherhood for Mother and Baby, at the Greg Craven Centre, Australian Catholic University, in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Women Speak Australia attended the conference, which brought together Australian and international…
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Violence Against Women and Girls in the Context of Surrogacy (A/80/158): Analysis of the UN Report by Reem Alsalem
Introduction In July 2025, UN Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem issued her thematic report The different manifestations of violence against women and girls in the context of surrogacy (A/80/158). She presented the report to the UN General Assembly Third Committee on 10 October 2025. The report does not treat surrogacy primarily as a family-building service in…
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Surrogacy in Australia: If It Requires So Many Safeguards, Should We Be Regulating It or Ending It?
Surrogacy is legal in every Australian state and territory, yet Australia has no single national surrogacy law. Instead, it is regulated primarily through separate state and territory legislation. There is one broad point of agreement: commercial surrogacy is prohibited across Australia, while altruistic surrogacy is permitted. In an altruistic arrangement, a surrogate may have certain…
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eSafety Commissioner Issues Removal Notice to X Over Genevieve Gluck Article: What Does the Online Safety Act Require?
On 4 August 2026, the Australian eSafety Commissioner issued a formal removal notice to X concerning a post that linked to a 2024 Substack article by US-based writer Genevieve Gluck. The article, published on 31 October 2024 on her Women’s Voices Substack, examined publicly available online material posted by an employee of the Australian Medical…
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Public Toilets and the Duty of Local Government: Why Single-Sex Facilities Matter for Women
Introduction Access to safe, private and usable public toilets is an important but often overlooked aspect of participation in public life. Across Australia, councils are increasingly considering different approaches to the design of public toilets and change facilities, including unisex and all-gender models. These approaches may provide benefits for some users, but they also raise…
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Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth) — Detailed Analysis
Background, Purpose and Legislative Structure The Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth) is the principal Commonwealth statute establishing Australia’s regulatory framework for specified categories of online harm. It received Royal Assent on 23 July 2021. The bulk of its operative provisions commenced on 23 January 2022, replacing and expanding the framework previously contained in the Enhancing…
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AHPRA Responds to WSA’s Concerns About Regulation of Health Practitioners’ Social Media Speech
Following concerns raised by Women Speak Australia about the regulation of health practitioners’ social media activity, AHPRA has responded to WSA’s request for clarification. However, important questions about the practical limits of regulatory oversight and the protection of lawful public debate remain unanswered. Background In an article published on 18 June 2026, When Psychologists Need…
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Violence against Mothers (A/HRC/62/49): Analysis of the UN Report by Reem Alsalem
“A mother is a school. When society invests in it and supports mothers, it builds a nation of noble character.”— Hafez Ibrahim (Egyptian poet) Introduction In June 2026, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, presented her thematic report Violence against Mothers (A/HRC/62/49) to the Human Rights Council. This…
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The Case of Dr Jillian Spencer: Clinical Concerns, Safeguarding and Professional Freedom
Questions surrounding the medical treatment of children experiencing gender-related distress remain the subject of significant scientific and professional debate. Systematic reviews in several countries have found the evidence for puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in this cohort to be of low or very low certainty. In this context, the ability of clinicians to raise evidence-based…
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The Kirralie Smith Appeal: What the NSW Supreme Court Decided About Advocacy, Women’s Sport and Anti-Vilification Law
Introduction On 24 July 2026, the NSW Supreme Court delivered its judgment in Smith v Blanch; Smith v Dennis [2026] NSWSC 879, concluding one of Australia’s most closely watched civil vilification appeals. The case arose from a series of social media posts published by Kirralie Smith, spokesperson for Binary Australia (Gender Awareness Australia Ltd), during…