By Stephanie Bastiaan

Black Lives Matter and violence against women are two issues regularly at the forefront of the national debate. 

Women’s sex-based rights advocate and Melton City Councillor Moira Deeming has been selected by the Liberal Party to stand for the upper house Western Metropolitan Region seat in Victoria's upcoming state election, in a move that is being celebrated by women’s advocates.

Things are looking up for women in the UK.

Activists around the world are clearly targeting both professional bodies and legislatures as a means of lending authority to their preferred, psychology-free “affirmation only” approach to the treatment of young people with gender dysphoria. The recent decision by the UK government to exclude “gender identity” from its proposed new “conversion therapy” legislation, should prompt a reconsideration of similar legislation that has already been enacted in Australia. It becomes a matter of some urgency that we establish whether and to what extent peak bodies and politicians are responding to an activist wish list at the expense of scientifically supported and proven professional best practice.  

It is clear from jurisdictions that have decriminalised prostitution, that doing so does very little to improve the working conditions of women caught up in the industry, including reducing stigma, harm and violence associated with the trade. Despite this evidence, the Queensland Government is nevertheless proceeding with the decriminalisation model, and has tasked the Queensland Law Reform Commission (“QLRC”) with recommending an appropriate legal framework. The QLRC is seeking feedback regarding a proposed legislative model for the state and has released a consultation paper.  

Before Zali Steggall was a politician, she was an elite athlete. In 1998, she won an Olympic bronze medal for women’s slalom skiing. In 1999, she won gold at the World Championships. Steggall has acknowledged that these sporting opportunities laid the foundations for her subsequent success as a lawyer and after that, her entry into politics. In Parliament, Steggall’s sporting accomplishments allowed her to speak with authority on the importance of ensuring a drug-free playing field and fair competition. According to what she said only two years ago: 

Last month, the Northern Ireland Assembly passed a bill making it a criminal offence for anyone to engage in “influencing” women inside “safe access zones” (100m) around abortion clinics. The bill targets those who protest against abortion or attempt to assist pregnant women outside such clinics, in order to “protect” women from “harassment”.

By Rachael Wong

The vicious demonisation of Warringah Liberal candidate Katherine Deves is the latest attempt to silence women who speak out about the impact of harmful gender policies and practices on women’s sex-based rights and the welfare of children.

For ‘International Day of Transgender Visibility’ on 31 March, online publication Mamamia published a series of articles examining the reality of the trans experience in Australia. The articles explore first hand accounts of what it is like to come out as trans, what it’s like to live as a trans person in Australia, and lastly the changes that trans people want to see in Australia.

Gender critical women who have always voted for left-wing parties are now finding themselves politically homeless as the parties they traditionally supported are shutting down debate on gender ideology. At the same time, the growing agitation over conflicts between newly-crafted transgender rights and long-established women’s rights is uniting women from across the political spectrum to stand up in unison to defend their common cause.