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.

Surrogacy is state-sanctioned violence against women and girls: Why prohibition is the only answer

AAWAA has responded to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls (SRVAWG)’s call for input for her upcoming report to the General Assembly’s 80th session, specifically addressing the theme of surrogacy and its relationship to violence against women and girls. AAWAA’s submission makes our position unequivocal: All forms of surrogacy constitute … Continue reading Surrogacy is state-sanctioned violence against women and girls: Why prohibition is the only answer →

A landmark victory for women’s rights: UK Supreme Court upholds biological definition of ‘woman’

The UK Supreme Court has just delivered a landmark ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, affirming that the term “woman” in the UK's Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex, not gender identity. This decision clarifies that single-sex spaces and services—such as crisis shelters, hospital wards, and sports—can lawfully exclude biological males to protect the … Continue reading A landmark victory for women’s rights: UK Supreme Court upholds biological definition of ‘woman’ →

Institutional integrity, free association, and women’s rights: our groups join the national push for sex-based protections

As the 2025 federal election approaches, the Affiliation of Australian Women’s Action Alliances (AAWAA) and its member groups are taking action. Across the country, our women-led organisations — and our individual members — are writing directly to candidates, urging them to restore clarity and fairness to Australia’s anti-discrimination framework. Our member groups have joined the … Continue reading Institutional integrity, free association, and women’s rights: our groups join the national push for sex-based protections →

Women’s rights are on the ballot: Candidates urged to back sex-based protections

As we head toward the 2025 federal election, the AAWAA has written to every candidate standing for the 48th Parliament of Australia with a clear message: women’s sex-based protections and rights must be a priority—and we have let them know that voters are paying attention. In our letters, we thank each candidate for stepping forward … Continue reading Women’s rights are on the ballot: Candidates urged to back sex-based protections →

Local Action: Jasmine Sussex, Breastfeeding is womens’ work

AAWAA brings to you ‘Local Action’ - interviews with women getting it done across Australia. In Local Action we talk to Mother of three and volunteer breastfeeding counsellor Jasmine Sussex. Jasmine has been attacked for holding the most reasonable and normal belief in the world – That only women can be mothers and only mothers … Continue reading Local Action: Jasmine Sussex, Breastfeeding is womens’ work →

NSW Minister for Women urged to safeguard women’s access to female-only spaces

NSWWAA have written to the Hon Jodie Harrison MP — the NSW Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault — expressing urgent concerns regarding the erosion of female-only spaces and services in NSW, as highlighted in recent parliamentary hearings, and in particular as they pertain … Continue reading NSW Minister for Women urged to safeguard women’s access to female-only spaces →

Women’s context is the nation’s challenge in the administration of the age pension in Australia

AAWAA has been invited by the Australian National Audit Office to provide input into their forthcoming performance audit of the administration of the age pension. The audit is expected to be tabled in Parliament in October 2025, and is open for public contributions via the ANAO's website until 27 April 2025; however, the ANAO encouraged AAWAA to … Continue reading Women’s context is the nation’s challenge in the administration of the age pension in Australia →

Call to disband the Queensland Children’s Gender Service (QCGS)

Both AAWAA and the Queensland Women's Action Alliance (QWAA) have written to the Premier and Deputy Premier of Queensland, as well as the Queensland Minister for Health, to thank them for the Queensland Government’s recent commitment to not support the expansion of gender services for children in Queensland and to instead prioritise the safeguarding of … Continue reading Call to disband the Queensland Children’s Gender Service (QCGS) →

24 theses or disputation on the social power of men to invade Women-only gym spaces

Download a two-page printable copy of this statement. OVERVIEW This statement reflects a view grounded in the legal provisions of Australian law, the lived experiences of Women, and the need for special measures that enable Women to overcome systemic disadvantages in a male-dominated and male-created society. IT IS NOT UNLAWFUL TO PROVIDE FEMALE-ONLY SPACES Women-only … Continue reading 24 theses or disputation on the social power of men to invade Women-only gym spaces →

Summit materials now available

AAWAA would like to provide our readers with some of the materials we produced or that were shared for the AAWAA Women’s Summit 2024. Thank you to all those who attended — your contributions, experience, expertise, and generosity were all so very much appreciated. Session 1. Welcome and overview Session 2. Practical activism Session 3. … Continue reading Summit materials now available →

NSW Equality bill being rammed through despite lack of democratic process and far-reaching changes to 20 Acts of Parliament

NSWWAA has written to NSW Premier Chris Minns as a matter of urgency to raise concerns about the proposed Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023 that we understand will be debated in NSW Parliament this week. NSWWAA is particularly troubled by the lack of democratic process that has occurred to date regarding the bill’s proposed sweeping and significant changes across twenty … Continue reading NSW Equality bill being rammed through despite lack of democratic process and far-reaching changes to 20 Acts of Parliament →

Specific mental health needs of women and girls must be addressed in next OHCHR comprehensive report

AAWAA has provided input into the UN OHCHR’s forthcoming report on mental health and human rights. We acknowledge and appreciate the recognition – reflected in past OHCHR reports and the WHO/OHCHR guide – that human rights violations, including forms of violence and discrimination, are significant contributors to adverse mental health outcomes. The link between systemic … Continue reading Specific mental health needs of women and girls must be addressed in next OHCHR comprehensive report →

It’s time to re-evaluate the ABC’s ties with ACON to restore independence and credibility

A non-partisan coalition of feminist and LGB groups has written to Kim Williams, ABC Chair, to express our concerns about the ABC’s relationship with the advocacy group ACON. We are especially concerned that the ABC’s membership of ACON/Pride in Diversity and its participation in ACON’s Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) compromises the ABC’s independence and … Continue reading It’s time to re-evaluate the ABC’s ties with ACON to restore independence and credibility →

Rejoinder to Michael Foran re Tickle v Giggle and the principle of legality

We thank Michael Foran for his recent and insightful analysis of our previous post. We maintain that: Parliament's intention was to amend the law to provide protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status, within the Act's defined areas. The removal of the definition of ‘woman' from the Act served this … Continue reading Rejoinder to Michael Foran re Tickle v Giggle and the principle of legality →

Tickle v Giggle and the principle of legality

Some questionable claims have been made recently about gender, sex, what it means to be a woman, and women's rights. But one statement from Justice Bromwich in the Tickle v Giggle case really takes the biscuit. Set aside, if you can, Justice Bromwich’s declaration in the Federal Court that “on its ordinary meaning, sex is … Continue reading Tickle v Giggle and the principle of legality →

Protecting the human rights of trans and gender diverse-identifying people: medical interventions including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones

In early May, AAWAA made a submission to the Australian Human Rights Council's national project mapping threats to trans and gender diverse (TGD) human rights in Australia. We welcome the AHRC’s interest in the human rights of people who identify as TGD, and note the AHRC’s mandate to investigate actions or practices that could be … Continue reading Protecting the human rights of trans and gender diverse-identifying people: medical interventions including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones →

Problems with surrogacy will disappear if surrogacy is banned

The NSW Women's Action Alliance (NSWWAA) has put in a submission to the NSW government for the Government's review of the Surrogacy Act 2010 and the Status of Children Act 1996. This review has come in response to an inquiry into an omnibus bill that seeks to amend twenty different laws all at once in … Continue reading Problems with surrogacy will disappear if surrogacy is banned →

AAWAA Women’s Summit 2024, Canberra: Draft program

Planning for the inaugural AAWAA Summit (Friday 4 - Saturday 5 October) is well underway and the program is looking fantastic, with talks and workshops covering practical activism, supporting women’s liberation, writing submissions, and much more. View our draft program, below. For women to walk away knowing they have the tools, skills, resources, networks, and safety … Continue reading AAWAA Women’s Summit 2024, Canberra: Draft program →

Federal minister’s welcome proposal to ban ‘sexual services’ from the NDIS

Federal Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Bill Shorten, has proposed to ban ‘sexual services’ from being funded by taxpayers.  This reform is one that we welcome, and we welcome it alongside prostitution survivors and survivor advocates who have vehemently opposed the funding of ‘sexual services’ under the NDIS since the inclusion of … Continue reading Federal minister’s welcome proposal to ban ‘sexual services’ from the NDIS →

Concerns that WHO guideline group lacks the diversity, balance, and expertise to address transgender health

The World Health Organisation recently provided an update on the membership of its Guideline Development Group on the health of trans and gender diverse people, and called for submissions. Our submission follows submissions we made on 8 and 15 January 2024 with our coalition partners -- AF4WR, CoAL, LGBAA, and WRNA -- responding to previous … Continue reading Concerns that WHO guideline group lacks the diversity, balance, and expertise to address transgender health →

Local Action: Mel Days, ‘Staying You’

QWAA brings to you ‘Local Action’ a monthly report on the brave feminist actions by women across Australia. Local Action this week is with Mel Day. Mel Day is a teacher who also works in the fields of sociology and counselling. In 2018-2020 she underwent treatment for aggressive stage 3 breast cancer. Mel discovered that … Continue reading Local Action: Mel Days, ‘Staying You’ →

Provision of free and accessible sanitary facilities must not come at the expense of adequate female-only facilities

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 →

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 →