Abolition of surrogacy is within the ALRC’s power: Responding to the terms of reference claim

On 18 December 2025, the Australian Law Reform Commission held a roundtable consultation with seven women's organisations who support the abolition of surrogacy in all its forms. What occurred was not merely a disagreement about policy content. It was a demonstration that fundamental questions about the review's legitimacy remain unaddressed — and that the ALRC … Continue reading Abolition of surrogacy is within the ALRC’s power: Responding to the terms of reference claim →

ALRC surrogacy review: why process matters as much as principle

On 18 December, feminist organisations from across Australia will participate in a roundtable discussion on the Australian Law Reform Commission's review of surrogacy laws. This review will shape national policy affecting women and children for years to come. Yet the process through which this review is being conducted raises fundamental questions about impartiality, democratic participation, and compliance … Continue reading ALRC surrogacy review: why process matters as much as principle →

Supporting Scotland’s groundbreaking bill and the case for going further: Why Australia must lead on abolition and apology

Scotland's Prostitution (Offences and Support) Bill represents a watershed moment in global efforts to address sexual exploitation. AAWAA has formally submitted our support for this groundbreaking legislation to the Scottish Parliament's Criminal Justice Committee. The Bill's approach — criminalising buyers whilst decriminalising and supporting those exploited — offers a model that Australia must not only … Continue reading Supporting Scotland’s groundbreaking bill and the case for going further: Why Australia must lead on abolition and apology →

Minister for Women: Who are the real stakeholders?

The Minister for Women, Senator Katy Gallagher, has referenced the range of stakeholders she engages with on a day-to-day basis when shaping policy that affects women’s health, safety, privacy, and rights. Yet, there is a glaring omission in this stakeholder landscape: the voices of women most directly affected are being ignored. Why are those of … Continue reading Minister for Women: Who are the real stakeholders? →

Feminist coalition exposes gaps, calls for urgent amendments in Australia’s report on human rights to the UN

AAWAA has been part of a united coalition of independent feminist organisations from across Australia to strongly criticise the Australian Government’s draft national report to the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR), exposing serious gaps between government rhetoric and the lived experiences of women and girls. This coalition represents a significant alliance of long-standing, evidence-based advocates … Continue reading Feminist coalition exposes gaps, calls for urgent amendments in Australia’s report on human rights to the UN →

False equivalence: Why ‘bundling’ fertility medicine with surrogacy puts women at risk

Policy-makers in Australia keep insisting that assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) and surrogacy belong under one legislative roof — a position that might suit industry and bureaucracy, but one that leaves women exposed to exploitation and harm. NSWWAA's latest submission to the NSW Legislative Council Select Committee on Fertility Support and Assisted Reproductive Treatment lays out … Continue reading False equivalence: Why ‘bundling’ fertility medicine with surrogacy puts women at risk →

Restoring rights and realities: Reforming mental health policy for women and girls in NSW

The mental health crisis facing women and girls in NSW is urgent and largely ignored by current policy frameworks — and so the NSW Women’s Action Alliance has submitted a comprehensive response to the NSW Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy consultation, calling for reforms that actually address the root causes of women's mental distress. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1sflLWeCWEfbrugvlXQEFG … Continue reading Restoring rights and realities: Reforming mental health policy for women and girls in NSW →

Why NSW anti-discrimination law must deliver safeguards for women and girls

The current review of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) could reshape the rights and daily realities for women and girls in New South Wales for decades to come. The NSW Women’s Action Alliance has made a submission to the review, saying it is critical that law reform is grounded not in shortcuts or administrative expediency … Continue reading Why NSW anti-discrimination law must deliver safeguards for women and girls →

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 →

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 →

The power of a united front: Why coalitions matter in feminist advocacy

Making headway on issues like surrogacy law isn’t a solo pursuit. Our recent joint submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) by a coalition of feminist organisations is a case in point. But when feminist groups with overlapping aims join forces, our arguments tend to land with more force, and it’s a reminder that … Continue reading The power of a united front: Why coalitions matter in feminist advocacy →

Feminist groups demand a voice in the ALRC’s review of surrogacy laws

AAWAA has led a coalition of independent feminist organisations from across Australia to present a formal submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) as part of its review of surrogacy laws. As members of a coalition of independent feminist organisations from across Australia, we have jointly submitted our response to the Australian Law Reform … Continue reading Feminist groups demand a voice in the ALRC’s review of surrogacy laws →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →