The AAWAA Women’s Advocate

TUF: Women as a sex class in a world of 'identity'

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:23:14 +0000

In this first episode of The Unmoved Feminist, Martine and Liv dig into one of the most consequential shifts of the past two decades: the gradual displacement of sex by gender identity in law, policy and public debate. Drawing on the foundational work of Kate Millett, Shulamith Firestone and Christine Delphy, they trace the second-wave concept of women as a sex class — where it came from, what it explains, and why abandoning it doesn't advance equality for women but obscures the conditions that make struggle necessary. A grounding episode for listeners who can see something has gone wrong but haven't always had a framework to name it.

This podcast provides general information and opinion only and does not constitute legal advice. Listeners should seek independent, professional legal advice before acting on any matters discussed. The hosts and AAWAA accept no liability for decisions made based on this content.

Repeat episode. Forced alignment: Defending our feminist tradition

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:05:49 +0000

Repeat episode for the Easter holiday. Emma and Liv push back against the mischaracterisation of women's rights organisations advocating for sex-based protections as 'right-wing', 'reactionary', or 'extremist'. They trace the feminist lineage of our advocacy through second-wave traditions, materialist analysis, and campaigns against prostitution, surrogacy, pornography, and male violence. From 'forced alignment' tactics that delegitimise our positions, to the conflation of sex with gender identity in law and policy, Emma and Liv explain why defending female-only spaces, critiquing gender as hierarchy, and opposing exploitation of women's bodies remain core feminist concerns—and why reclaiming our political tradition is essential to protecting women's rights today.

Local Action: Accuracy over approval, Dr Megan Blake

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:13:58 +0000

Emma and Sue spotlight Local action with Dr Megan Blake, barrister for the Lesbian Action Group and president of the new YAEL Women’s Defence Guild. They discuss Megan’s commitment to material reality and accuracy over labels, her experience weathering public hostility while defending women’s sex-based protections and rights, and why YAEL was created to fund key legal cases so women are not bankrupted for defending female-only protections. Listeners hear how one woman’s principled legal work connects directly to local action and how we can support YAEL as it begins its work.

The unintended consequences of Victoria's conversion ban

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:05:48 +0000

Emma and Amber discuss Victoria's Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act, which is currently under review by the Victorian Law Reform Commission. AAWAA supports the ban on gay conversion practices — but the evidence suggests the Act is producing serious unintended consequences in its application to gender identity. Clinicians are stepping back from treating gender-distressed young people. Parents face uncertainty about conversations with their own children. And same-sex attracted young people may be being steered away from the careful clinical exploration they need. Emma and Amber discuss what AAWAA submitted to the review, what the evidence shows, and what modest amendments could fix the problem without disturbing the law's core purpose.

Equality Australia, tax perks and a Governor‑General beyond scrutiny

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:33:28 +0000

Equality Australia has been ruled an advocacy body, knocked back for standard charity tax status, and then rescued with a bespoke DGR deal, vice‑regal patronage and a shield of secrecy. In this episode, Emma and Liv unpack how Equality Australia used Thorne Harbour Health’s DGR status, how the Albanese government is now moving to write Equality Australia into the tax law, how the Governor‑General’s patronage is being cited in the Giggle v Tickle appeal, and how Senate rules swiftly protected the vice‑regal office from criticism. They then walk through AAWAA’s FOI battle with the Governor‑General’s office and the FOI watchdog, showing how section 6A and the Kline decision are being stretched to keep women from seeing whether the Patronage Policy was ever properly applied.

Constructive reduction: How NCC 2025 cuts female‑only toilets

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:24:27 +0000

In this episode Emma and Suzi unpack the NCC 2025 preview’s new ‘all‑gender’ toilet option and what it really means for women’s access to safe, adequate facilities in public buildings. Drawing on AAWAA’s 2024 submission to the Australian Building Codes Board, we explain how the change allows a ‘constructive reduction’ in female‑only toilets, why all‑gender cubicles do not replace women’s toilets in practice, and how sanitary bin rules still quietly assume sex‑based needs. We also examine the consultation process itself – where women’s groups engaged in detail but industry‑backed proposals prevailed – and outline what ministers, regulators, and listeners can do now to keep female‑only toilets on the agenda.

CEDAW and the Netherlands: Why “sex work” isn’t women’s rights

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:23:42 +0000

Emma and Amber examine the CEDAW Committee’s advance observations on the Netherlands, asking what it means when a UN women’s rights body talks about “sex work”, “safe and legal workplaces, including home‑based sex work”, and even “minor sex workers”. They discuss how this language sits with CEDAW, CRC, Palermo and the 1949 Convention, why it signals institutional drift away from sex‑based protections and rights, and what an abolitionist, treaty‑consistent approach to prostitution and trafficking should look like—for the Netherlands and for Australia.

Dismissed, delayed, doubted: The age pension audit and what it doesn't say

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:38:18 +0000

Emma and Suzi examine the Auditor-General's comprehensive performance audit of age pension administration in light of evidence AAWAA submitted to the Australian National Audit Office one year earlier. The audit validates systemic failures – $5 billion in incorrect payments, processing delays up to 4.2 years, only 48.55 per cent of phone calls answered – but contains no sex-disaggregated analysis despite women constituting 55.55 per cent of recipients. They discuss specific cases of older women dismissed, delayed, doubted, and subjected to greater scrutiny than male counterparts, and why gender-neutral reform recommendations will fail to address how women experience administrative failures differently. Without making women visible in data and analysis, pension system reform will continue to assume a recipient who does not exist.

Three commissioners, one conversation: womens advocates brief the Australian Human Rights Commission

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 18:05:53 +0000

Emma is joined by Megan to unpack a significant development for womens advocacy in Australia: a formal meeting between AAWAA, Feminist Legal Clinic, the Coalition of Activist Lesbians, and the Australian Human Rights Commission. They discuss why womens organisations pushed to meet with the President, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner and the Human Rights Commissioner; what they presented about Australia’s de facto sex and gender framework; and how concerns about female‑only spaces, lesbian‑only organising, and CEDAW‑compliant consultation were received. The episode explores ‘strategic patience’, section 11 inquiry powers, and what it means for womens groups to move from sending submissions to being recognised as stakeholders inside the national human rights body.

Underground again: How governance failures erase lesbian rights

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:51:18 +0000

Emma and Luci examine violence and discrimination affecting lesbian and bisexual women in Australia. They unpack how governance failures themselves constitute discrimination: the systematic exclusion of lesbian women from policy processes on sex self-identification laws, exemptions under discrimination law, and school policies. They detail the Lesbian Action Group's failed exemption application to the AHRC, institutional capture by LGBTIQ+ organisations claiming to represent lesbian interests, and how lesbians are denied the right to organise publicly as women – while gay men and transgender groups operate without obstruction. This is about fundamental human rights violations through governance failure.

Male violence against mothers: Making it visible

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:16:15 +0000

Emma and Lucy unpack violence against mothers – a form of sex-based harm that remains dangerously invisible in international policy. They examine three interconnected mechanisms: reproductive coercion, weaponisation of children against mothers, and systematic economic subordination through the motherhood penalty. They detail how institutional actors enable rather than prevent this violence, and outline comprehensive recommendations for legislative and policy reform to protect mothers' safety, autonomy, and economic security.

Criminalising advocacy: Why Australia's hate groups bill threatens political freedom

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:21:51 +0000

Emma and Megan unpack the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 – a framework that criminalises organisational membership based on a vague "unacceptable risk" standard, without procedural fairness, and with a 72-hour consultation window. They examine the constitutional vulnerabilities: the absence of evidence that organisational criminalisation is necessary, the deliberate removal of procedural safeguards, the risk of retrospective criminalisation for lawful conduct, and the chilling effect on women's political advocacy. This is what happens when serious legislation meets broken process.

Christmas wrap 2025: AAWAA's year of consolidation and strategic advocacy

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 21:55:28 +0000

AAWAA's Christmas Wrap for 2025: Emma hosts Martine, Luci, and Suzi as they look back on a transformative year for AAWAA. They discuss coordinated national campaigns on sex self-ID and surrogacy prohibition, groundbreaking UN submissions on women's human rights, the 2025 federal election push to restore sex-based protections, international momentum against surrogacy, how we've built genuine cross-state collaboration on policy and strategy, and what it means to organise as feminists across Australia. Serious, strategic and upbeat – this is how to build a real movement.

Can the ALRC recommend surrogacy prohibition? What the law actually says

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:03:43 +0000

On 18 December, feminist organisations attended an ALRC roundtable on surrogacy law reform – and witnessed an independent review apparently structurally compromised. Emma and Amber unpack the governance failures: how the ALRC deflected legal questions about abolition, moved process concerns into private emails, conflated having women with representing women's interests, curated 'lived experience' to exclude voices that oppose surrogacy, and set a submission deadline the day after the roundtable. We discuss what the ALRC must do to retain credibility – and why it matters.

Prohibition or regulation? The ALRC's surrogacy review and feminist resistance

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 19:02:08 +0000

Emma and Amber discuss the Australian Law Reform Commission's review of surrogacy laws, examining why the roundtable with feminist organisations is scheduled for 18 December—one day before the submission deadline for feedback on its discussion paper—and why this timing exposes deeper governance failures. They unpack the advisory committee's structural conflicts of interest, the lack of early consultation with abolitionist women's organisations, and how the review breaches CEDAW compliance obligations. Most critically, they explain why AAWAA is attending despite these failures: to place governance concerns formally on the record and refuse to negotiate away the principle that surrogacy must be abolished. Because the integrity of law reform processes matters as much as the policy content itself.

Beyond 'yes' and 'no': Structural inequality and the law of rape

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 19:41:47 +0000

In this episode, Emma is joined by Lucy and Liv to discuss their formal submission to the statutory review of sexual consent laws. In 2021, NSW introduced landmark "affirmative consent" reforms. But four years on, are they actually delivering justice for women? The team unpacks why the current legal definition of consent—"free and voluntary agreement"—is fundamentally flawed in a patriarchy. The discussion explores how the law fails to recognise the reality of coercive control, why the "reasonable steps" test still allows men to negotiate away a woman's "no," and why true affirmative consent requires flipping the presumption of male sexual access.

Evidence required: Why Australia must assess impact on women

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 18:39:23 +0000

Emma and Liv expose why consultation alone cannot satisfy Australia's obligations under CEDAW. Governments across Australia are treating consultation as political cover for decisions already made—but CEDAW demands something far more rigorous: mandatory impact assessment. They break down what the Convention actually requires (Articles 2, 3, 5, and 7), explain how General Recommendation No. 28 shifts the focus from process to results, and document the systematic failures in NSW, Western Australia, and Queensland where women were excluded and impact assessment never occurred. Most critically, they outline a four-step legislative framework—from legislated impact statements to independent oversight—that would restore women to the centre of policy affecting our sex-based protections and rights. Because governments can no longer vote claiming ignorance once impact is published.

Institutional capture? The ABC, advocacy, and accountability

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:40:25 +0000

In this episode of the Women's Advocate, Emma and Megan discuss the ABC’s relationship with ACON, the LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation behind the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI). Following the National Press Club address, they explore ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks’s responses—both publicly and in follow-up questioning—on governance, editorial independence, transparency, and the influence of advocacy relationships on media coverage. The conversation covers recent public scrutiny, gaps in ABC reporting acknowledged by its own Media Watch program, and why advocates are calling for an independent parliamentary audit of the ABC–ACON connection. The discussion also examines the BBC’s experience with Stonewall, what it can teach Australian media, and the next steps for public accountability. For full documentation, the latest petition, and further analysis, visit womensadvocacy.net.

Campaigning against the UN expert on women: DFAT's gender back-channels revealed

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 03:40:54 +0000

We unpack revelations from a Freedom of Information release showing how the Australian Government works behind the scenes to push back against independent UN scrutiny of our nation's women's rights record. Emma and Megan discuss why the Government is actively countering the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, how Australia is now treating women's sex-based protections under CEDAW, and the troubling blurring of lines between government priorities and UN committee independence. From debate over surrogacy to the erasure of sex-based rights, this episode explores what is really at stake when governments try to control the international conversation on women and girls.

Forced alignment: Defending our feminist tradition

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 19:10:37 +0000

Emma and Liv push back against the mischaracterisation of women's rights organisations advocating for sex-based protections as 'right-wing', 'reactionary', or 'extremist'. They trace the feminist lineage of our advocacy through second-wave traditions, materialist analysis, and campaigns against prostitution, surrogacy, pornography, and male violence. From 'forced alignment' tactics that delegitimise our positions, to the conflation of sex with gender identity in law and policy, Emma and Liv explain why defending female-only spaces, critiquing gender as hierarchy, and opposing exploitation of women's bodies remain core feminist concerns—and why reclaiming our political tradition is essential to protecting women's rights today.

FOI evidence of systematic exclusion: Stakeholders versus submissions

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 18:40:28 +0000

Emma and Megan unpack shocking FOI evidence showing systematic exclusion of women's groups from policies affecting our sex-based protections and rights. Whilst LGBTQIA+ organisations receive formal advisory positions, paid travel, and access to draft policies months before public consultation, women's groups scramble to respond to four-week consultation windows—if we discover them at all. From the 2013 SDA amendments that introduced 'gender identity' to the 2023 LGBTIQA+ Health Action Plan, the pattern is documented and damning. This is a clear breach of CEDAW Article 7—and it's producing bad policy with real harms for women and girls. Read the full FOI analysis and our demands at womensadvocacy.net.

From sex self-ID to women's sex-based protection: NT leads the way

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 18:20:04 +0000

In this episode, Emma and Martine explore the Northern Territory’s landmark decision to ban all male prisoners from women’s jails—an “on my watch” promise from Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro that has set a new national benchmark for protecting women in custody. We unpack two alarming incidents—a Victorian child sex offender housed at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and Katie’s alleged assault at South Australia’s Port Augusta Prison—to show how sex self-identification laws have left female-only spaces dangerously exposed. We outline practical steps premiers and chief ministers can take—legislative amendments, ministerial directives, immediate placement audits and explicit sex-based placement rules—to ensure women’s safety and dignity are enshrined in law, not left to shifting policies.

Inquiring into uncertainty: The AHRC's unused powers

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 03:10:51 +0000

Emma and Megan examine how forty years after the Sex Discrimination Act was passed to implement CEDAW, confusion over sex-based protections is leaving women's services, sporting bodies, and advocacy groups without clear guidance. They explore the AHRC's rejection of lesbian exemption applications and institutional drift that prioritises other considerations over women's sex-based rights. The episode sets out the Commission's unused section 11 powers to inquire, examine, and report on human rights inconsistencies—and why Parliament must act if the AHRC won't restore legal certainty for women's protections.

Local Action: Janet Fraser — roots, backlash, and the renaissance ahead

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 18:23:16 +0000

Emma and Sue unpack Janet Fraser’s journey from second‑wave roots and lesbian organising in the ’90s to founding Joyous Birth after a traumatic hospital transfer, being branded for saying ‘birthing women’, and finishing law to fight for female‑only spaces and legal clarity.

Women shut out: Inside WA’s surrogacy overhaul

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 06:08:57 +0000

Emma hosts Amber and Martine to unpack Western Australia’s surrogacy ‘reform’: how an industry‑led process sidelined women’s voices, abolished ex‑ante safeguards, and bundled ART with surrogacy to fast‑track a market‑friendly law. Amber lays out the process failures and what the Bill changes; Martine maps the advocacy strategy in the Council—committee referral, reinstating pre‑conception approvals, raising surrogate protections, and splitting ART from surrogacy—so lawmakers can restore scrutiny and protect women and girls.

Where there is no consultation: WA surrogacy, NSW ‘equality’, and QLD’s sex self-ID problem

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:19:38 +0000

Emma hosts Amber and Lucy for a ground-level look at how exclusion of women from consultation is producing bad law across Australia. From WA’s industry‑driven ART and surrogacy bill and fast‑tracked sex self‑ID law, to NSW’s predetermined ‘equality’ process and bundling ART with surrogacy, to QLD’s token consultation windows, they unpack why this breaches CEDAW Article 7 and ICCPR participation rights, and how it leads to regulatory capture, legal uncertainty, and harm to women and girls. The episode sets out concrete fixes: separate surrogacy from ART, end curated stakeholder lists, restore independent reviews and full committee scrutiny, and centre women’s advocacy in every stage of law‑making.

Demanding accountability: Why we questioned the Sex Discrimination Commissioner at the National Press Club

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 08:21:41 +0000

Emma and Megan discuss AAWAA's direct questioning of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner at the National Press Club about her powers, obligations, and the systematic exclusion of women's advocacy groups from sex and gender policy consultations. They explore the Commissioner's claim that CEDAW has been reinterpreted to include all 'versions' of woman, the lack of public accountability around this change, and why women's sexed-based protections and rights cannot be quietly displaced through administrative redefinition. This episode examines the Commission's statutory duties under Section 11 of the AHRC Act and calls for genuine consultation with women's organisations on policies that directly affect us.

Tasmania’s crossroads: Ending prostitution to protect women and girls

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 07:11:44 +0000

Emma and Luci examine the Women’s Action Alliance Tasmania’s call on the Tasmanian Government for the abolition of prostitution and urgent law reform. They unpack the landmark UN report on prostitution as violence, discuss the ongoing harm and demand created by advertising in Tasmanian media, and explain the link between prostitution and the institutional child sexual abuse exposed by the state’s recent inquiry.

Losing our rights? Monitoring the AHRC’s turn away from women

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 20:07:45 +0000

Emma and Amber put the Australian Human Rights Commission under the spotlight, questioning its shift away from meaningful, sexed-based protections for women and girls. From legal battles and lost consultation to confusion for services and sport, they expose how policy changes and reinterpretations have left women’s rights on shaky ground. Is Parliament the only answer for restoring clarity and accountability?

Local Action: The builder, Feminist matriarch Merike Johnson

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 19:50:18 +0000

In this episode, Emma and Sue explore the life of Merike Johnson—a refugee, scientist and feminist trailblazer—tracing her journey from a post-war German camp to leading women’s activism in Australia, building refuges, challenging discriminatory laws, and warning of the dangers when ‘sex’ is erased from science, statistics, or language, all while inspiring others with her resilience, humour and focus on women's rights.

Scotland’s abolition bill: How Australia must go further

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 20:06:05 +0000

Emma and Luci examine Scotland’s pioneering Prostitution (Offences and Support) Bill and what it means for the rights, safety, and dignity of women and girls everywhere. They provide a serious, evidence-driven analysis of why shifting criminal accountability to sex buyers, restoring justice for women criminalised by exploitation, and mandating state assistance are vital reforms. Drawing on AAWAA’s submission to the Scottish Parliament and the call for stronger action in Australia—including a National Apology—this discussion sets out a feminist blueprint for principled law reform, survivor support, and lasting change.

Not at the stakeholder table: The ongoing exclusion of women in policy

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 08:20:28 +0000

In this episode, Emma and Amber examine the government’s claims about “engaging stakeholders” and reveal how those of us most affected—women and girls—are routinely left out. We unpack the consequences of this exclusion, explore recent legal and policy developments eroding sexed-based protections, and call for a return to genuine consultation that puts our voices at the heart of decision-making. Join us for clear evidence, sharp analysis, and a rallying cry for real representation in women’s policy.

Hidden in plain sight: Australia’s failure to protect women’s rights

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:45:03 +0000

Emma and Megan take listeners inside our coalition’s major submission to the Universal Periodic Review, exposing how the Australian government is erasing women’s sex-based rights while claiming progress. Why are legal protections for women and girls being rolled back behind closed doors? What’s missing from Australia’s official human rights report, and what must change to put women back at the centre of law and policy?

False equivalence: The wrongs of treating surrogacy as fertility support

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 03:03:53 +0000

Emma and Lucy look at the dangers of merging Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) with surrogacy under a single legislative umbrella. They unpack the crucial differences between medical treatment for infertility and the ethical, legal, and women's rights minefield of contracting out women’s bodies. What gets lost when policy-makers blur these lines—and who stands to lose the most?

From crisis to care: Putting women and girls at the heart of NSW’s Mental Health Strategy

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:32:19 +0000

Emma and Lucy examine the urgent issues shaping mental health and wellbeing for women and girls across New South Wales. They explore why current policies too often fail to recognise our unique needs, highlighting the erosion of female-only services, rising rates of violence and eating disorders, and the troubling impact of recent legislative changes.

Local Action: Justice and resistance, Isla MacGregor’s activist legacy

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 00:12:43 +0000

Emma and Sue highlight Isla MacGregor, a front-line campaigner since the early 1990s, whose work with Whistleblowers Australia and activism against corruption and child abuse have shaped Tasmania’s feminist movement. Isla’s leadership in launching the Coalition for Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse and founding Women Speak Tasmania demonstrates her unyielding focus on responsibility, cooperation, and organisation.

Bad law, silenced voices: WA’s ART & Surrogacy Bill

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 19:52:24 +0000

Amber and Martine join Emma to expose the deep flaws in Western Australia’s Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Bill 2025. Amber outlines how the Bill erases crucial differences between surrogacy and assisted reproduction, silencing women’s voices in favour of commercial interests. Martine shares WAWAA’s advocacy strategy—including emailing every single WA MP individually—which resulted in immediate engagement from parliamentarians. Together, they make the abolitionist case against surrogacy and demand genuine scrutiny, independent review, and the central involvement of women’s advocacy in all lawmaking affecting women’s rights.

Blueprint for female toilets: The ongoing struggle for women-only facilities

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 06:36:15 +0000

Emma and Suzi break down the ongoing debate over ‘all-gender’ toilet facilities in the National Construction Code, revealing how small policy changes can threaten women’s rights to safety and dignity in public spaces. They discuss AAWAA’s detailed submission to the Australian Building Codes Board, dive into the confusion created by shifting from ‘sex’ to ‘gender’ language, and explain why the current consultation remains unresolved.

Safeguarding our status: What women need from anti-discrimination law reform

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 19:53:56 +0000

Emma chats with Lucy to unpack the NSW Women’s Action Alliance submission to the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act review. They discuss why legal clarity about ‘sex’ is vital, what’s at stake if anti-discrimination law moves to a ‘gender’ model, and how administrative shortcuts put women and girls at risk of losing crucial protections in healthcare, sport, crisis services, and public life. Drawing on both international obligations and hard lessons from recent NSW legislation, Emma and Lucy challenge the Law Reform Commission to resist expedient fixes and commit to robust sexed-based protections and rights for women.

A National Apology for women and girls in prostitution: Truth, reform, justice, and restoration

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 20:35:34 +0000

Emma and Amber call on the Prime Minister and the Minister for Women to provide a National Apology for all women and girls harmed, criminalised, and stigmatised through prostitution in Australia. Speaking as part of the strongest feminist coalition in the country, they lay out a clear plan — the Australian Abolition Approach (‘Triple A’) for Absolute Protections — calling for criminalisation of buyers, full decriminalisation and support for those exploited, trauma-informed services, survivor-led policy, and national consistency.

Guidelines or law? Why government policy doesn’t trump the Sex Discrimination Act

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 20:36:38 +0000

Emma and Suzi unpack the NSW Law Reform Commission's current review of the Anti-Discrimination Act, with a special focus on government guidelines for sex and gender data. They explore why the Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender are administrative tools—not laws—and how the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 remains the definitive authority, especially when it comes to exemptions for single-sex spaces. Drawing on recent UK court cases and policy reviews, Emma and Suzi explain why legal clarity matters and how statutory protections for women must not be diluted by government policy shifts.

Female association on trial: Who belongs in women's spaces in Tickle v Giggle

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 06:50:10 +0000

In this episode, Emma and Martine take you deep into the heart of a significant legal battle — the Tickle v Giggle case — exploring who counts as a woman and who can access women-only spaces in Australia. They unpack the debates between Equality Australia advocating for definitions that include males as lesbians based on gender identity, and the Lesbian Action Group standing for biological sex and lesbian attraction as the basis for defining women’s spaces, and women. Along the way, they navigate the evolving legal landscape shaped by the Sex Discrimination Act, the crucial principle of legality, and what the upcoming Full Court decision may mean for women and the future of female-only spaces.

Where’s the line? Balancing hate speech, women’s rights, and free speech in NSW

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 21:33:26 +0000

Emma and Lucy unpack the NSW Women’s Action Alliance’s latest submission on hate speech law reform. They explore why the incitement to violence threshold is so important, raise concerns about making “hatred” a crime without clear limits, and highlight the current gap in sex-based legal protections for women. Drawing on real-world examples and international context, the episode explores how vague or overbroad laws could chill debate, compromise women’s rights, and undermine Australia’s international obligations.

Local Action: Reclaiming lesbian space, The Carole Ann episode

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 07:38:38 +0000

Emma and Sue talk about how Carole Ann and the Lesbian Action Group have been a driving force in defending lesbian-only spaces in the face of mounting pressures and shifting definitions. This episode explores the group's challenge to policies at Melbourne’s Pride Centre, their case before the Australian Human Rights Commission, and their ongoing campaign for genuine lesbian visibility and connection.

Triple A for women: The path to the abolition of prostitution in Australia

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:24:01 +0000

Emma is joined by Luci and Amber to explore why Australia’s approach to prostitution urgently needs to change — and what we can learn from bold reforms in Scotland and across the world. Together, they unpack the global shift toward targeting buyers and profiteers, not the exploited; examine the Scottish bill’s breakthrough protections and survivor-focused support; and lay out a roadmap for an ‘Australian Abolition Approach’ that would end criminalisation of prostituted women, mandate comprehensive government exit support, and finally put women and girls first in law and policy.

Holding Australia to account: Providing evidence to the United Nations

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:13:08 +0000

Emma and Luci explain how the CSW communications process lets women’s groups present evidence of systemic violations—like the silencing of advocacy and loss of sex-based protections—to the United Nations, aiming to hold Australia accountable and demand meaningful change for women and girls when domestic channels fail.

Unintended chaos: The legal fallout of two missing words

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:17:35 +0000

Emma and Lucy unpack the renewed debate about what Australia’s parliament really intended when it removed the definitions of “woman” and “man” from the Sex Discrimination Act back in 2013. Drawing on our 2024 analysis of the Tickle v Giggle case, we reveal how parliament failed to debate or clarify the sweeping legal changes that are now leaving women’s rights in limbo. Visit womensadvocacy.net.

Revolutionising gender care: A call for comprehensive change

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 00:13:56 +0000

Emma and Amber break down the Queensland Government’s review of hormone therapies for children and teens with gender dysphoria. Drawing on new evidence and the lived experience of girls—now the majority seeking these treatments—they challenge assumptions in current policy and clinical practice. Hear why the coalition says girls need real safeguarding, greater oversight, and support tailored to their lives, not just medical fixes. For more detail, survey responses, and case examples, visit womensadvocacy.net.

Local Action: Everyday resistance every day, Nerissa Scott’s story

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 09:00:51 +0000

Emma and Sue discuss Nerissa Scott’s activism, which began in childhood and flows through protests, petitions, and solidarity actions across Brisbane. This episode highlights how her sharp intellect and lived experience fuel practical campaigns for women’s rights, and how standing with survivors and fellow protestors continues to inspire her.

Women's rights in Australia: A step backward?

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 22:32:35 +0000

Emma and Meg unpack our feminist coalition’s latest submission to the UN, explaining how gaps in law and policy are undermining sex-based rights and protections. Why are so many feminist groups are uniting, and what Australia must do to safeguard women’s rights. Want to get involved? Email women@womensadvocacy.net.

How AAWAA works: Principles, structure, and advocacy in action

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 06:48:31 +0000

Emma and Amber take listeners behind the scenes of AAWAA, explaining what the coalition does, how it is structured, and the guiding principles that drive its national advocacy. They discuss how AAWAA operates with strategic focus, compassion, and a commitment to evidence-based action on issues including women’s legal rights, sex-based protections, submissions to government and the UN, letter-writing campaigns, and national summits.

Local Action: Betty McLellan’s feminist ethic

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 08:59:22 +0000

A tribute to Dr Betty McLellan, this episode with Emma and Sue traces her impact as a therapist, philosopher and writer. Listeners hear how her call for ethical clarity continues to inspire women to resist the roots of patriarchy and remain honest in activism, with practical insight into the challenges of collective action.

The secrets of strategic advocacy, AAWAA’s 2025 election campaign: Part 3, What real engagement looks like—Impact, insights, and lessons learned

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 04:22:36 +0000

Emma and Martine break down what our election campaign actually achieved: response rates by party and state, the quality of candidate engagement, and key themes that emerged from over 100 substantive replies. Discover why 44% of minor party candidates responded compared to just 2.6% from major parties, what candidates said about women's rights and institutional integrity, and the operational lessons that will shape future campaigns.

The secrets of strategic advocacy, AAWAA’s 2025 election campaign. Part 2, The big push: From preparation to real-rime political action

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:17:59 +0000

Emma and Martine take you inside the real-world challenge of engaging 700+ election candidates across Australia. Explore how minor parties and regional candidates responded differently than major parties, why the UK Supreme Court ruling changed everything mid-campaign, and how persistence and professionalism opened doors. From tracking response rates to pivoting messaging in real-time, this is grassroots advocacy in action.

The secrets of strategic advocacy, AAWAA’s 2025 election campaign. Part 1, Foundations: How national grassroots advocacy takes shape

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 04:14:22 +0000

Emma and Martine reveal what it really takes to build a national women's rights campaign from the ground up. From manually compiling contact details for 820 federal candidates to developing advocacy materials through coalition consultation, discover the unglamorous but essential work behind effective grassroots advocacy.

Unveiling the hidden rules of women's sports rights

Thu, 15 May 2025 00:09:59 +0000

Emma and Amber expose how local clubs are left confused about protecting female-only competition. They break down the “permanent exemption” in Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act, why fair play and safety matter, and how vague advice is failing girls and volunteers. Get the facts on what the law really says—and what clubs and athletes need to know. More at womensadvocacy.net.

Local Action: Advocating for biological reality, Stassja Frei

Tue, 06 May 2025 08:51:43 +0000

Emma and Sue introduce you to Stassja Frei, a researcher and organiser whose early work with the Coalition for Biological Reality and her thoughtful commentary helped clarify women’s rights issues across Australia. From speaking up during the J.K. Rowling backlash to launching her ‘Desexing Society’ podcast, Stassja has provided crucial research, curates daily news, and built vital connections among women who felt isolated from mainstream debate.

Navigating gender law: UK vs Australia unpacked

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 03:07:09 +0000

Emma and Amber break down the sharp legal differences between how the UK and Australia define ‘woman’ and manage single-sex spaces. They explain the impact of the UK Supreme Court’s recent ruling, Australia’s confusion around sex self-ID, and what these contrasting systems mean for women’s rights and everyday decision-making. For clarity on female-only spaces and legal rights, tune in and get the facts. More at womensadvocacy.net.

Clarity in controversy: The UK ruling on ‘woman' explained

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 23:58:52 +0000

Emma and Amber break down the UK Supreme Court’s landmark decision defining ‘woman’ as biological sex under the Equality Act—and why the ruling quickly became headline news for Australian women’s advocates.

Explore how this legal clarity stands in sharp contrast to Australia’s confusion, following changes to our own Sex Discrimination Act. We unpack what’s happening on the ground: stories of women being sidelined in crisis shelters, sports, and digital spaces, the growing frustration over vague laws, and the urgent call to restore sex-based protections.

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The hidden crisis of women's retirement security

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 23:11:46 +0000

Emma and Lucy explore why the age pension in Australia isn’t working for most older women. Join them as they reveal how outdated rules, gaps in super, and unpaid care leave women facing insecurity and even homelessness later in life. Hear real stories, policy gaps, and what reforms are urgently needed for women’s dignity in retirement. Full submission and real-life case studies at womensadvocacy.net.

A new voice for women’s advocacy in Australia: The AAWAA Women’s Advocate

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:17:40 +0000

Emma and Amber introduce the Affiliation of Australian Women’s Advocacy Alliances’ new podcast. They discuss the vision behind the series, its focus on honest analysis and practical advocacy, and the value of bringing together voices from across AAWAA’s nationwide coalition—including grassroots leaders like Amber, Lucy, Sue, and Martine. The episode explores both the main series and the ‘Local Action’ sub-series, which shines a spotlight on the realities of local campaigning and women’s organising. Listeners can expect episodes grounded in facts, lived experience, and a commitment to facing up to today’s complex challenges for women and girls. Now streaming on all major platforms.