Author: Rodney Croome

HOBART COUNCIL REPLACES STOLEN PRIDE FLAGS. TASMANIA POLICE INVESTIGATING THEFT

Media Release Monday February 17th 2025 “The fact the flags are flying again shows that love wins.”  – Rodney Croome Equality Tasmania has praised Hobart City Council and Tasmanian Police for their response to the theft of three pride flags from outside Hobart Town Hall last week. The flags, originally hoisted for the annual TasPride festival, […]

CONCERN THAT TASMANIAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL LGBTIQA+ POLICIES ILLEGAL

Media Release Friday February 14th 2025 Tasmanian Catholic school authorities have admitted to policies that may breach the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act, drawing criticism from LGBTIQA+ community advocates. Earlier today, Catholic Education Tasmania and the Archbishop of Hobart, Julian Porteous, admitted to a Tasmanian parliamentary school discrimination inquiry that Catholic schools do not affirm the gender identity […]

Call on Tas Gov to retain current transgender inclusion laws and policies

Claims by anti-trans group dismissed Equality Tasmania has called on the State Government to stick to its election commitment of not reviewing gender affirming care for young trans people, and maintaining Tasmania’s gender recognition and anti-discrimination laws. The call comes after anti-transgender group, Women Speak Tasmania, provided the Government with a dossier it says documents […]

FOCUS ON SAFETY OF TASMANIAN LGBTIQA+ PRISONERS WELCOMED

Equality Tasmania has welcomed the state Custodial Inspector’s concern about the safety of LGBTIQA+ people in Tasmanian prisons. In a statement released today the Inspector, Richard Connock, wrote, “Members of the LGBTIQA+ community are particularly vulnerable in prison environments. Sadly, following the inspection, we observed evidence of two serious assaults on gay men by other people in custody occurring […]

PROPORTION OF TASMANIANS WHO ARE LGBTI+ ABOVE NATIONAL AVERAGE

Tasmania has a higher proportion of LGBTI+ people than most other Australian states or territories The revelation comes from data unveiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today which shows 4.5% of Australians or 910,600 people, identify as LGBTI+. The state-by-state breakdown (see attachment) shows 4.7% of Tasmanians are LGBTI+, which is above the national average. […]

TAS GOV HATE CRIME LAW COMMITMENT WELCOMED BUT FURTHER ACTION NEEDED

Equality Tasmania has welcomed the State Government’s decision to act allow harsher penalties for crimes against LGBTIQA+ people when they are motivated by prejudice, discrimination and hatred, but has called for more to be done to prevent such crime. Today, Attorney-General, Guy Barnett, announced he will draft legislation implementing the Sentencing Advisory Council’s recommendation to […]

TAS GOV SUPPORTS FINANCIAL REDRESS FOR THOSE CONVICTED UNDER FMR ANTI-LGBTIQA LAWS

The Tasmanian Government has given its support for financial redress for those people convicted under the state’s former laws against homosexuality and cross-dressing. In September the state’s Lower House voted for a Greens’ redress scheme against the Government’s wishes. But ahead of debate in the Upper House the Government joined Labor, the Greens and Independents […]

TAS GOV TAKES STAND ON CENSUS

The Tasmanian Government has taken a stand in support of full LGBTIQA+ inclusion in the Census. Tasmanian Minister for Community Services, Roger Jaensch, has written to the minister responsible for the Census, Andrew Leigh, highlighting Tasmania’s progress toward implementing all Australian Bureau of Statstics (ABS) standards for LGBTIQA+ data gathering, reinforcing the need for equivalent […]

Tas Health Department launches groundbreaking LGBTIQA+ Action Plan

Equality Tasmania has welcomed the launch of the Tasmanian Health Department’s first LGBTIQA+ Action Plan. Spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said, “Local and national research shows that LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians have poorer health, including mental health, than other Tasmanians and other LGBTIQA+ Australians, and that our poorer health is due to discrimination and stigma.” “The Department of Health’s […]