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 […]
Category: Politics
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 […]
Burnie councillor condemned for demonising Queer Eye star
The Burnie City Council has affirmed its support for inclusion and diversity in response to a social media post from Cr Trent Aitken demonising non-binary star of Queer Eye, Jonathon van Ness, for wearing a dress to the Golden Globes awards. In the now-deleted post (see attachment), Cr Aitken said, van Ness is “not right in the […]
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 left behind on conversion as SA passes ban
Equality Tasmania has warned that Tasmania risks being the last state to ban conversion practices after the South Australian Parliament last night passed a law banning conversion in that state. Spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said, “The only states without conversion bans are now Western Australia and Tasmania.” “Survivors of conversion practices in Tasmania are three to four times more likely to have PTSD and attempt suicide.” “This […]
TAS LGBTIQA+ LEADERS WELCOME BUDGET FUNDING / URGE FURTHER INVESTMENT IN RELIEVING LGBTIQA+ DISADVANTAGE
LGBTIQA+ community leaders have welcomed $250,000 over two years for the Tasmanian LGBTIQA+ Action Plan announced in last week’s State Budget. But they say it is not enough to deal with LGBTIQA+ discrimination and mental health risk. Equality Tasmania spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said, “LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians experience much higher than average levels of discrimination and stigma which […]
TAS LOWER HOUSE SUPPORTS FINANCIAL REDRESS FOR VICTIMS OF FORMER LAWS AGAINST HOMOSEXUALITY AND CROSS DRESSING
Last night the Tasmanian Parliament’s Lower House passed the nation’s first financial redress scheme for those convicted under former laws against homosexuality and cross-dressing. The scheme was introduced by Greens’ leader, Rosalie, Woodruff, and supported by Labor and independent MPs, during debate on Liberal Government legislation updating the state’s legislation allowing criminal records for homosexuality […]