Tag: Australia
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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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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…
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Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld): Analysis of Sex, Gender Identity, Sexuality and Sex Characteristics
This analysis examines the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) (the Act) as currently in force, with particular attention to the protected attributes of sex, gender identity, sexuality and sex characteristics. Definitions (Schedule 1 – Dictionary) The Act does not define “sex”. Gender identity, of a person— (a) is the person’s internal and individual experience of gender,…
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‘It Was a Different Time’: The 2013 Sex Discrimination Act Amendments
During a recent question-and-answer session at Manchester University, former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was asked about her government’s 2013 amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act. Those amendments removed the Act’s biological definitions of “man” and “woman” and added “gender identity” as a protected attribute. Gillard responded that the issues now being debated were not…
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Who Are Breastfeeding Organisations For? Mothers, Babies and the Importance of Safeguarding
Breastfeeding support organisations were created for a simple purpose: to support mothers and babies. For decades, women gathered in these spaces to discuss pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, maternal health, and the challenges of caring for newborn children. They were built on shared female experience and a common focus on infant wellbeing. Increasingly, however, many of these…
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National Standards Are Clear: Midwifery in Australia Remains Woman-Centred
Midwifery practice in Australia is governed by national law and professional standards that place women at the centre of care. The primary legislation is the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, which establishes the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). The NMBA’s Midwife standards for practice (2018) explicitly state that the standards “are framed within…
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Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic): Analysis of Sex, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation and Sex Characteristics
This is a policy analysis of the key provisions in Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (the Act) relating to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and sex characteristics. It draws on the current consolidated text of the Act (as at mid-2026), including amendments from 2021 that updated several definitions. Definitions (Section 4) The Act provides explicit…