The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) recently put out a call for submissions for proposals to create 'all-gender' sanitary facilities in the National Construction Code (NCC), by removing the term 'sex' and replace it with 'gender' throughout the code. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5yZ6UNKAx1936MCZsgMoZa AAWAA holds that the provision of sanitary facilities should be made in regard to the … Continue reading Provision of free and accessible sanitary facilities must not come at the expense of adequate female-only facilities
Author: AAWAA (Affiliation of Australian Women's Advocacy Alliances)
AAWAA is a peak body that co-ordinates national-level activities on behalf of our affiliated women’s action alliances and that also represents those alliances in national and international matters.
AAWAA affiliate groups are women’s liberation groups committed to the protection and advancement of women and girls on the understanding that sex is a biological fact with material consequences for females living under patriarchy.
Reform the eSafety act: A safer online environment will help eliminate discrimination and violence against women and girls.
AAWAA has made a submission to the Statutory review of the Online Safety Act 2021. AAWAA shares growing community concerns about the real-life harms facilitated by the internet, including harassment and abuse of women. We support the purpose of the Online Safety Act managing and mitigating these harms, including the grant of powers to the … Continue reading Reform the eSafety act: A safer online environment will help eliminate discrimination and violence against women and girls.
Not-so-jolly hockey sticks. Why are women expected to play against men in Canberra’s female hockey comp?
Why are men taking part in women's hockey competitions run by Hockey ACT? And why aren't women being asked if they agree to that? WAAC was sent this story by a Canberra woman, and we have permission to publish it, here. I am a woman playing social grade hockey in the ACT. I have played … Continue reading Not-so-jolly hockey sticks. Why are women expected to play against men in Canberra’s female hockey comp?
Sex self-ID being rammed through WA parliament
The Western Australian Parliament’s Births, Deaths, and Marriages Amendment (Sex or Gender changes) Bill 2024, introduced by the WA Attorney General, the Hon John Quigley MP, seeks to amend two different laws in Western Australia and would allow people to change their legal sex — multiple times. The effects of this would be 1) to … Continue reading Sex self-ID being rammed through WA parliament
Local Action: Feminist Matriarch Merike Johnson
QWAA brings to you ‘Local Action’ a monthly instalment on the brave feminist actions by women across Queensland. In Local Action this week I talk to Merike a survivor and refugee to Australia who went on to become a an Environmental Scientist (hydrogeochemistry) with the NSW Department of Mines when women in science were rare. … Continue reading Local Action: Feminist Matriarch Merike Johnson
Content and lack of public consultation in NSW Equality Bill poses serious questions about democratic process
Following public concern, the NSW Legislative Assembly recently referred the flawed Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023 to its Committee on Community Services to conduct an inquiry to examine "operational issues." The Committee is due to report by 3 June 2024. If passed, the bill will amend 20 different laws all at once in New … Continue reading Content and lack of public consultation in NSW Equality Bill poses serious questions about democratic process
Local Action: Nina Lee, nature-loving, bilingual musician and poet
QWAA brings to you ‘Local Action’ a monthly report on the brave feminist actions by women across Queensland. Today we are talking with Nina Lee. Nina, a nature loving, bilingual, hippy musician and poet, lives in a commune in Northern NSW, and is an honorary Queenslander. I sit down with Nina today to to talk … Continue reading Local Action: Nina Lee, nature-loving, bilingual musician and poet
Inclusion in sport must not come at the expense of safety, fairness, or the right to privacy and dignity in changerooms for women and girls
AAWAA made a submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls in reponse to her call for input to her report on violence against women and girls to the UN General Assembly on violence against women and girls in sport. We value inclusion in sport but not at the expense of … Continue reading Inclusion in sport must not come at the expense of safety, fairness, or the right to privacy and dignity in changerooms for women and girls
A potential SA human rights act must protect women and girls on the basis of our sex
The South Australian Women's Action Alliance, SAWAA, recently joined a coalition of Australian women’s and LGB groups in making a submission to the South Australian Parliament on that state's inquiry into a potential human rights act. Our submission is submission no. 302. The coalition consists of SAWAA, Australian Feminists for Women’s Rights (AF4WR), Coalition of … Continue reading A potential SA human rights act must protect women and girls on the basis of our sex
Local Action: Edie Wyatt, writer and fighter for women’s rights
QWAA brings to you ‘Local Action’ a monthly report on the brave feminist actions by women across Queensland. In Local Action this time we sit down with journalist, top tier TERF and podcaster Edie Wyatt and we discuss culture, the state, and the state we have found ourselves in. Talking with Edie is the intellectual … Continue reading Local Action: Edie Wyatt, writer and fighter for women’s rights
Better understanding of menopause impacts and treatments is essential for women’s healthy ageing
The Australian Senate's Standing Committee on Community Affairs has accepted AAWAA's submission into the senate's inquiry into issues related to menopause and perimenopause. We know that symptoms of menopause and the menopause transition can impact significantly a woman’s personal life as well her work, but sadly, this knowledge is not translating into a broader change in … Continue reading Better understanding of menopause impacts and treatments is essential for women’s healthy ageing
Sex self-ID and the erosion of women’s rights: an Australian coalition’s letter to CEDAW
In February 2024, a coalition of Australian women’s and LGB groups, led by AAWAA, wrote to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to raise urgent concerns about the impact of sex self-identification, or “sex self-ID”, on women’s rights and sex-based protections in Australia. Our coalition comprises teachers, lawyers, nurses, doctors, scientists, … Continue reading Sex self-ID and the erosion of women’s rights: an Australian coalition’s letter to CEDAW
How using International Women’s Day to celebrate ‘gender identities’ hides structural and systemic sexism
8 March marks International Women’s Day (IWD); however, the now-common practise of de-centering women on this day (and in general as regards women’s issues) under the guises of ‘intersectionality’ and ‘gender inclusivity’ actively harms our collective anti-sexism journey and obscures the structural and systemic sexism women continue to face. This fact sheet explains how. Feel … Continue reading How using International Women’s Day to celebrate ‘gender identities’ hides structural and systemic sexism
New SOGI expert must listen to lesbians
AAWAA has made a submission to Dr Graeme Reid, the UN's Independent Expert on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). Dr Reid recently put out a call for input into the protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, in relation to the human … Continue reading New SOGI expert must listen to lesbians
Tasmanian teachers urged to ask the questions
For most Australian families, school will recommence next week, and WAAT has been hearing from teachers who are worried. They’re worried that this year will bring more students who want to be called by a different name, who expect to participate in opposite-sex sports, and who are openly telling others that they’re going to start … Continue reading Tasmanian teachers urged to ask the questions
WHO’s guidelines need guidance
In light of the WHO's recent proposed development of a guideline on the health of trans and gender-diverse people and our concerns that the proposed health guideline will endorse the medicalisation of gender non-conformity, we have written as part of a coalition to the WHO's Guidelines Review Committee. Our concerns extend beyond the issue of … Continue reading WHO’s guidelines need guidance
WHO set to rubber-stamp controversial new gender health guideline
AAWAA has joined a coalition of Australian women’s and LGB groups to co-sign a letter addressed to the WHO's Guideline Development Group (GDG) in relation to the 18 December 2023 announcement of the proposed development of a guideline on the health of trans and gender-diverse people. Our coalition respects the WHO’s global mandate to promote healthier lives, and your ongoing … Continue reading WHO set to rubber-stamp controversial new gender health guideline
Not too late for AHRC to uphold lesbians’ civil and political rights to opinion and assembly
The Affiliation of Australian Women’s Action Alliances (AAWAA) is surprised and disappointed at the Australian Human Rights Commission’s preliminary view not to grant a temporary exemption to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (SDA) that would allow lesbians to meet on the basis of their sex and their sexual orientation. We are particularly puzzled as the … Continue reading Not too late for AHRC to uphold lesbians’ civil and political rights to opinion and assembly
Australia’s new international gender strategy needs to address the unique needs of women and girls
AAWAA welcomes DFAT’s decision to develop a new international gender inequality strategy and trusts that this signals ambition in the direction of policy development to emancipate women and girls. Development of such policies is not only a matter of moral imperative but also a strategic investment that promises substantial returns in the form of enhanced … Continue reading Australia’s new international gender strategy needs to address the unique needs of women and girls
AHRC urged to allow lesbians freedom of assembly without men
AAWAA has supported an application by the Lesbian Action Group (LAG) to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) for an exemption under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to conduct ‘Lesbians Born Female’-only events, including to celebrate International Lesbian Day. We believe that an exemption is necessary to ensure the safety and security of this group … Continue reading AHRC urged to allow lesbians freedom of assembly without men
State and territory women’s alliances back lesbian-only gatherings
Two powerful letters sent to the Australian Human Rights Commission in August 2023 demonstrate clear, grassroots support for the Lesbian Action Group’s right to female-only events. Both the Queensland Women’s Action Alliance (QWAA) and the Western Australian Women’s Action Alliance (WAWAA) wrote in strong, principled defence of lesbian women’s right to assemble as a group, … Continue reading State and territory women’s alliances back lesbian-only gatherings
Concerns registered that Dept of Health is compromised by participation in advocacy group’s ‘equality index’
WAAC has joined a coalition of women's and LGB groups to register our concerns that the Department of Health and Aged Care (DOHAC) has compromised its capacity to administer certain grants and provide impartial advice to the government on specific issues as a result of its participation in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI). The AWEI … Continue reading Concerns registered that Dept of Health is compromised by participation in advocacy group’s ‘equality index’
The ACMA bill must avoid censorship that threatens democracy and worsens online harms
AAWAA has welcomed the opportunity to comment on an exposure draft bill aimed at providing the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) with new powers to combat misinformation and disinformation. Whilst a well-judged act could do much to address the problem of online harm, a poorly constructed act will only exacerbate current problems and undermine … Continue reading The ACMA bill must avoid censorship that threatens democracy and worsens online harms
Critical gaps in Australia’s human rights for women and girls must be remedied
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (PJHCR) has accepted AAWAA's submission to the Inquiry into Australia's Human Rights Framework. The Women's Action Alliance Canberra (WAAC) is a member of the Affiliation of Australian Women’s Action Alliances (AAWAA) brings together women’s liberation groups from the ACT, Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, all of whom contributed to … Continue reading Critical gaps in Australia’s human rights for women and girls must be remedied
Senator Wong invited to represent concerns about sexual orientation, women, and children to the UN
The Affiliation of Australian Women's Action Alliances (AAWAA) has written to Senator Penny Wong in relation to several matters that are pertinent to Australia’s relationship with and obligations to the United Nations and that have caused us concern. We have asked Senator Wong to consider these concerns and to work to address them at the UN level. … Continue reading Senator Wong invited to represent concerns about sexual orientation, women, and children to the UN
ABS asked to include only sex qua sex in the sex topic in the next census
Three Australian women's liberation groups came together at the end of April this year to make a joint submission to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), arguing that a question only on sex qua sex recorded or observed at birth should be asked in the sex topic in the 2026 Australian Census. As sister organisations WAAC (Canberra), WAAT (Tasmania), and QWAA (Queensland), formed … Continue reading ABS asked to include only sex qua sex in the sex topic in the next census
Why Queensland’s Births, Deaths and Marriages Bill risks women’s protections and rights: A perspective from Canberra
A new bill before the Queensland Parliament proposes significant changes to birth, death and marriae registration—but it could come at the cost of women’s rights, child safeguarding, and freedom of association. The Women’s Action Alliance Canberra (WAAC), recently made a submission outlining our deep concerns about the bill’s impact. What’s at stake? The bill would … Continue reading Why Queensland’s Births, Deaths and Marriages Bill risks women’s protections and rights: A perspective from Canberra
