Media release – Cassy O’Connor MP, Greens Leader, 20 March 2023
Fake Feminists Who Play Footsies with Nazis to Gather on Parliament Lawns
The Presiding Officers of Tasmania’s Parliament have regrettably decided to allow an anti-transgender hate group to rally on Parliament’s lawns tomorrow.
Earlier today, the Greens wrote to the Speaker of the House and President of the Legislative Council asking them to revoke the Let Women Speak group’s permission to meet on the lawns in light of disgusting scenes of Nazis marching in support of them in Melbourne on Saturday.
This group stood shoulder-to-shoulder solidarity with Nazis in Melbourne. They share an ideology of demonising a minority – transgender people.
Let Women Speak is a hate group. They’re fake feminists who play footsies with Nazis.
Given the shocking display in Melbourne, and the potential for tomorrow’s planned gathering to attract far-Right extremists, we respectfully requested the Presiding Officers of the Parliament revoke their permission for this event to go ahead. To no avail.
While free speech and freedom to protest are fundamental democratic rights, these rights are not unbounded – as shown by Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Act. We must not be afraid of acting to prevent the magnification and spread of far-Right extremism.
Fascism is on the rise and it demands an unequivocal, firm response from all levels of government and society. Tasmanians should not kid ourselves – we are not immune from this dangerous ideology.
Parliament’s lawns are a place of peace, inclusion and democracy. They are no place for Nazis. The risk of harm caused by this planned event is significant.
The hateful, dangerous ideology of these groups must be absolutely, unequivocally rejected in a civilized society.
There can be no place in Tasmania for Nazis, or those who encourage them.
The Tasmanian Greens stand in solidarity, always, with transgender people and we will ceaselessly fight for their rights to inclusion and equality.
Media release – Equality Tasmania, 20 March 2023
TASMANIAN ADVOCATES CONCERNED ABOUT NAZI SUPPORT FOR ANTI-TRANS SPEAKER
CALL FOR TASMANIAN ANTI-NAZI LEGISLATION TO INCLUDE NAZI SALUTE
Equality Tasmania is deeply concerned about an anti-trans activist, Kelly-Jay Keen-Minshull, speaking on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Tuesday after the same speaker was supported by Nazis outside the Victorian Parliament in Melbourne yesterday.
The group has also called for the Tasmanian Government’s draft bill against Nazi symbols to include the Nazis salute after that featured prominently at the Melbourne event.
Equality Tasmania spokesperson, Rose Boccalatte said,
“Parliament House, the home of Tasmanian democracy, should not be giving a platform to speakers who attract Nazi sympathisers.”
“This is not the first time this has happened, with a speaker at a Kelly-Jay Keen-Minshull event earlier this year quoting Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ to justify transphobia.”
“While we strongly support free speech, that freedom comes with a responsibility not to harm others.”
“Regardless of whether Kelly-Jay Keen-Minshull’s event goes ahead, we have a vigil planned for midday on Tuesday at Parliament Lawns that we urge supporters of inclusion and diversity to attend.”
Equality Tasmania President, Rodney Croome, said it is vital the State Government’s proposed law against Nazi symbols bans the Nazi salute.
“Victoria was the first state to pass a law against Nazi symbols, but there is little that can be done about the multiple Nazi salutes at Saturday’s anti-trans rally in Melbourne because the salute isn’t included in the legislation.”
“We call on the Tasmanian Government to ensure our legislation bans Nazi salutes in the same way it will ban swastikas and other Nazi symbols.”
Mr Croome said the Government should also pass stronger laws to ensure all Tasmanians are protected against hate-motivated crimes.
Media release – Ella Haddad MP, Shadow Attorney General, Shadow Minister for Justice, Shadow Minister for Equality, 19 March 2022
No room for hate speech in Tasmania
The outbreaks of violence seen in Melbourne in recent days are extremely concerning.
Anti-trans protesters were seen to give a ‘Nazi salute’ as they marched the streets in support of a travelling anti-trans UK speaker who addressed crowds.
Tasmanian Labor utterly condemns this display of hate and division.
It is worrying that the same UK speaker plans to attend an event in Hobart this week.
There is no room for hate speech or actions motivated by hate in our state.
It is good to know the government plans to progress its draft legislation to outlaw the display of Nazi symbols.
Labor welcomes any action that sends a message to the community that there is no place for hate speech in our state.
However, the bill does not go far enough. It should be expanded to include the banning of other displays of hate such as the Nazi salute and hate crimes motivated by homophobia and transphobia.
