Tag: podcast

The Australian Government Guidelines on Sex and Gender: Administrative practices are not an easy way out of legal uncertainty

The NSW Law Reform Commission's consultation paper on the Anti-discrimination Act review has raised concerns that it might look to the Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender to shape legal concepts of sex and gender in NSW. These administrative guidelines, however, do not provide a solution to the ongoing legal uncertainty surrounding … Continue reading The Australian Government Guidelines on Sex and Gender: Administrative practices are not an easy way out of legal uncertainty →

Equality Australia and the Lesbian Action Group: contesting the meaning of ‘woman’ in women’s spaces

The Tickle v Giggle case has become a defining moment in Australian discrimination law, crystallising fundamental tensions around sex and gender. As an appeal to the Full Court of the Federal Court gets underway, two vastly different ideas have emerged about how women’s spaces should be defined and protected: Equality Australia’s, and the Lesbian Action … Continue reading Equality Australia and the Lesbian Action Group: contesting the meaning of ‘woman’ in women’s spaces →

Striking the right balance: Reforming hate speech law for women’s safety and democratic freedoms in NSW

As the New South Wales Government considers reforms to criminal law protections against incitement of hatred, the stakes for women, freedom of expression and genuine social cohesion have rarely been higher. The NSW Women’s Action Alliance (NSWWAA) argues that any changes must carefully protect against serious harm, while not undermining the open debate and sex-based … Continue reading Striking the right balance: Reforming hate speech law for women’s safety and democratic freedoms in NSW →

Australia’s slide backwards on women’s rights: what we told the CSW at the UN

Every year, advocates for women and girls from across the world make their case in communications before the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)—the highest global forum on gender equality. The CSW exists to monitor countries’ performance under treaties like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women … Continue reading Australia’s slide backwards on women’s rights: what we told the CSW at the UN →

Introducing the AAWAA Women’s Advocate podcast: voices for women’s protections and rights

We are proud to launch The Women’s Advocate, a new podcast from the Affiliation of Australian Women’s Advocacy Alliances (AAWAA), a space designed to explore beneath the surface of policy, advocacy, and daily life for women and girls in Australia. Our aim is to create a record—nuanced, searching, and unafraid—of what is happening to women’s … Continue reading Introducing the AAWAA Women’s Advocate podcast: voices for women’s protections and rights →

QWAA strengthens the call for evidence-based protections for girls in Queensland’s hormone therapies review

As Queensland embarks on a vital review of hormone therapies for children and young people with gender dysphoria, the Queensland Women’s Action Alliance (QWAA) and the broader Affiliation of Australian Women’s Action Alliances (AAWAA) have delivered a comprehensive, expert-grounded response. Our coordinated effort seeks to ensure government policy and clinical practice truly protect girls and … Continue reading QWAA strengthens the call for evidence-based protections for girls in Queensland’s hormone therapies review →

Australian feminists unite for UN shadow report: Why women’s voices matter in international human rights

Our coalition of independent feminist organisations has submitted its shadow report to the United Nations Human Rights Council as part of Australia’s fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR). In doing so, we join other civil society groups in making plain the growing threat to women’s rights and sex-based protections in Australia: a reality that is too … Continue reading Australian feminists unite for UN shadow report: Why women’s voices matter in international human rights →

Local Action: Stassja Frei, Holding the line

AAWAA brings to you Local Action — interviews with women Getting It Done across Australia. In this edition of Local Action, we talk to Stassja Frei. Stassja holds a special place in my heart as the quintessential TERF, and she’s certainly one of the first Australian TERFs to pop her gorgeous head over the parapet. … Continue reading Local Action: Stassja Frei, Holding the line →

Aus vs UK: female-only spaces, self-ID, and legal ambiguity

The recent UK Supreme Court decision on the Equality Act 2010 has created a sharp legal distinction between the UK and Australia regarding the recognition of sex and gender in anti-discrimination law. In the UK, the Supreme Court ruled that ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act refer strictly to biological sex as observed at … Continue reading Aus vs UK: female-only spaces, self-ID, and legal ambiguity →

The silent exemption: How sporting clubs are misled about protecting women’s sport

The current confusion surrounding gender inclusion policies in Australian sport has left many local sporting clubs and associations in a precarious position. While the ambition for greater inclusion in sport is widely shared, the reality of achieving such inclusion is, for local sporting clubs, far more complex. Too often, guidance from authorities focuses on broad … Continue reading The silent exemption: How sporting clubs are misled about protecting women’s sport →

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 →

Local Action: Carole Ann, The fight for lesbian rights

AAWAA presents ‘Local Action’—interviews with women making a difference across Australia. In this edition, we speak with Carole Ann. She and the women of the Lesbian Action Group are steadfast in their belief that men cannot be lesbians. After gender ideology eroded lesbian-only spaces in the 1990s—demanding that men be included in lesbian events—many women … Continue reading Local Action: Carole Ann, The fight for lesbian rights →

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 →

Local Action: Susan Hawthorne

AAWAA brings to you ‘Local Action’ - interviews with women getting it done across Australia. In Local Action we talk to Susan Hawthorne. Susan Hawthorne, a legendary Australian feminist, is an award-winning writer of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Susan Hawthorne, with her partner Renate Klein, founded Spinifex Press, a leading independent radical feminist publisher in … Continue reading Local Action: Susan Hawthorne →

Local Action: Speakers’ Corner in Brisbane, 21 July 2024

AAWAA brings to you ‘Local Action’, a monthly report on the brave feminist actions by women across Australia. Local Action this week is on the Speakers’ Corner. Sue Clarke and Leah Whiston are the founders of Woman Up Queensland. They facilitate the monthly Speakers Corners in Brisbane. I sat down to discuss the Local Action … Continue reading Local Action: Speakers’ Corner in Brisbane, 21 July 2024 →

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’ →