Tasmania’s human rights watchdog will investigate state election materials which allegedly incited hatred against transgender and intersex people.
The Office of the Tasmanian Anti-discrimination Commissioner has accepted a complaint from transgender rights advocate, Martine Delaney, in which Ms Delaney claims election newspaper advertisements placed by adherents of the secretive Exclusive Brethren breached Tasmania’s Anti-discrimination Act by declaring that transgender and intersex human rights will “ruin families and society”.
“I am glad the Commission is taking this issue seriously because transgender and intersex people suffer more than enough
discrimination and violence without being publicly vilified as well”, Ms Delaney said.
“It’s high time a stand was taken against political parties and interest groups which demonise minorities during election campaigns.”
Ms Delaney’s case looks set to attract attention because it will test High Court judgements on an implied constitutional right to free speech regarding political matters.
“I support freedom of speech, but with every individual right comes a social responsibility, and the people who placed the offending ads ignored that responsibility”, Ms Delaney said.
The Office of the Anti-discrimination Commissioner will now seek written submissions from both parties to the dispute.
No decision has yet been made on Ms Delaney’s complaint against similar election materials issued by the Tasmanian Liberal Party.
Martine Delaney
Earlier on TT: Rodney Croome
