Louise Elliot will answer to TASCAT tribunal over allegations she incited hatred
A Hobart City Councillor, accused of inciting hatred towards transgender women, will now answer to the tribunal, after the matter could not be resolved by the anti-discrimination commissioner. What happens next.
Tasmania
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A Hobart City councillor who was being investigated for allegedly inciting hatred will face a tribunal after the case was escalated by the anti-discrimination commissioner.
Outgoing anti-discrimination commissioner Sarah Bolt investigated a complaint that Louise Elliot incited hatred on the basis of gender identity.
Ms Elliot was set to meet with Ms Bolt and the complainant in June, but conciliation was cancelled.
Because the matter was unable to be resolved by Ms Bolt, it’s now been referred to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative tribunal.
The tribunal will investigate the matter, hold a hearing and make findings about whether or not Ms Elliot’s conduct was in breach of the anti-discrimination act.
Ms Elliot, who has strongly denied the allegations, said she was prepared to take the matter to the High Court.
“I said that ‘transwomen are transwomen and remain biological men’,” Ms Elliot said.
“This situation is ludicrous.”
Ms Elliot said the incident she was being investigated for occurred at a Hobart anti-trans rally in March, which was crashed by counter-demonstrators.
She said the matter being investigated impinged on her right to free speech.
“This is an assault on freedom of belief, freedom of expression and political communication,” she said.
Unrelated to Ms Elliot’s matter, set to go before the tribunal, she has also faced recent scrutiny by her council colleagues and was referred to the integrity commission and director of local government.
It came after she criticised, on social media, a council workshop on gender as ‘re-education’ which was ‘imposed’ on her.
Other councillors said they believed the comments to be disrespectful and moved a motion the council refer Ms Elliot on for external review.
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