South Australian Labor Government to ram through harmful 'conversion practices' ban bill
By Stephanie Bastiaan
The Malinauskas Labor Government has introduced a 'conversion practices' ban bill by stealth in South Australia. The Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill 2024 (Bill), drafted by Attorney-General Kyam Maher and introduced by Deputy Premier Susan Close just two weeks ago, was debated and passed in the Legislative Assembly in under two hours – immediately after it was introduced. It is set to be debated in the Legislative Council today.
Read moreVictorian breastfeeding advocate faces legal action for comments critical of men ‘chest feeding’
By Stephanie Bastiaan
Victorian mother and breastfeeding advocate Jasmine Sussex is being taken to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) by trans-identified male Jennifer Buckley after raising concerns online about biological males trying to chest feed newborn babies. Courts, including QCAT, have the power to summon respondents to attend proceedings in a location most convenient to the applicant. This legal action follows three years of complaints by Buckley to various authorities, including the Queensland Human Rights Commission and the e-Safety Commission, who subsequently ordered posts by Sussex that said men can't breastfeed to be removed.
Read moreQueensland Children’s Gender Service Review is a Sham
By Stephanie Bastiaan
Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has committed a further $2.6 million per year in funding to Queensland Children's Gender Service (QCGS) to implement the recommendations of an 'independent' review released on Friday, bringing its tax-funded budget up to $5.2 million annually.
Read moreTickle v Giggle: Women’s Rights on Trial
By Stephanie Bastiaan
This week women’s sex-based rights are going on trial in the Federal Court of Australia with the landmark case Tickle v Giggle.
Read moreThe shameful trade of women and children: Why there’s no place for Alex Greenwich’s regressive surrogacy reforms in NSW
By Stephanie Bastiaan
This week, New South Wales is set to debate Independent MP Alex Greenwich’s Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023, a component of which seeks to decriminalise overseas commercial surrogacy. While altruistic surrogacy is legal throughout Australia, commercial surrogacy remains illegal (due to concerns regarding the exploitation of women and children), and in NSW, this includes procuring commercial surrogacy arrangements overseas. Greenwich has long been an advocate for surrogacy.
Read morePeak psychiatry body’s landmark shift away from ‘gender affirming care’ for kids
By Stephanie Bastiaan
The Royal Australian and New Zealand Royal College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) have released a statement backing a holistic approach to managing gender dysphoria in young people and children rather than the gender affirmation model, in which a child’s perceived gender is unquestioningly affirmed by doctors.
Read moreSouth Australian MP introduces bill to help vulnerable women exit the sex industry
By Stephanie Bastiaan
On the 30th of August, Upper House Liberal Leader Nicola Centofanti introduced the Summary Offences (Prostitution Law Reform) Amendment Bill 2023, making South Australia the first state to debate prostitution reforms based on the Nordic Model, also known as the Equality Model. Following the failures of ‘regulated’ or decriminalised legislative models rolled out in other states across Australia, it is a welcome development.
Read moreSouth Australian MP calls for state inquiry into “gender affirming care” for young people
By Stephanie Bastiaan
Read more“We must avoid this becoming one of the biggest medical scandals of our time.” – Hon. Frank Pangallo MLC
Let Women Speak – The vilification of Angie Jones
By Stephanie Bastiaan
We’ve heard a lot about the vilification of Moira Deeming by Victorian Liberal Party Leader John Pesutto and others in the wake of the Let Women Speak rally in Melbourne, and recently, UK women’s rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen has joined Moira in issuing defamation proceedings against the leader – and in her case – his entire leadership team. There are many other women who have been harmed by the vile slurs thrown around by politicians and the media following the rally. One of those women, is women's and children's advocate, Angie Jones.
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The Case against John Pesutto: An Overview
By Stephanie Bastiaan
Liberal MP Moira Deeming has issued Victorian Liberal Opposition Leader John Pesutto with a third Defamation Concerns Notice as she prepares to launch defamation proceedings against him in the Federal Court.
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