Paige Johnson has made history with her election win in the City of Newcastle at New South Wales’ local elections at the weekend. Voters across New South Wales went to the polls in the local government elections on Saturday (September 14). In the City of Newcastle, voters elected Labor candidate and out transgender woman Paige …

LGBTQIA+ community advocates have welcomed proposed amendments that would see “sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status and disability” added to federal hate crimes legislation for the first time but are concerned that the changes don’t go far enough. The Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2024 aims to strengthen the “urging violence offences” in …

One Nation’s Pauline Hanson has been thwarted from amending the Sex Discrimination Act to wind back discrimination protections for trans people. Senator Hanson introduced the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Acknowledging Biological Reality) Bill on Thursday. The draft bill would’ve removed gender identity from the Sex Discrimination Act, rolling back federal discrimination protections for trans and gender-diverse …

Last night the Tasmanian Parliament’s Lower House passed the nation’s first financial redress scheme for anti-LGBT laws. 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 and cross-dressing to be expunged from outward-facing …

Senator Lidia Thorpe has called on the federal government to include questions on gender identity and sex characteristics in the next census, following an inquest into the tragic suicides of transgender women in Melbourne. The Independent Victorian Senator reminded the Albanese government that last month, a Victorian coroner handed down a report into the deaths …

A Victorian coroner has recommended urgent improvements to police systems and increased funding increase for trans and gender-diverse healthcare following an inquest into a series of tragic suicides. Coroner Ingrid Giles has made the recommendations after an inquest into the deaths of five young transgender women in Melbourne. One of the women, Bridget Flack (above), …

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a new question on sexual orientation will be tested for the next census, partly reversing a government decision that caused widespread backlash this week. But advocates say the PM’s update isn’t clear enough, with no apparent commitment to the questions on gender identity and intersex status that are needed too. …

The Deputy Prime Minister has claimed the government’s decision to quietly axe new questions about sexuality and gender from the next census was made to avoid “divisive debates” on the issue. The federal government confirmed at the weekend that topics on sexuality and gender identity would not be added to the 2026 census. The decision …

Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke plans to personally review the visa application of far-right, anti-trans influencer Candace Owens, ahead of a planned Australian speaking tour. Candace, who has millions of online followers, is selling tickets for the November tour. She’s planning speaking events in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. The conservative influencer and commentator …

Minister for Equality Harriet Shing has announced Joe Ball as Victoria’s third Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities. A proud transgender man and longstanding LGBTIQA+ advocate, Joe Ball has been announced as Victoria’s third LGBTIQA+ Commissioner this morning. “It is an immense honour and responsibility to be the next Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities,” Ball said. “I …