UK activist Susan Smith says Aussie women are treated as ‘second-class citizens’

British activist Susan Smith, who successfully won a UK court case which determined a woman is someone born biologically female, says it is ‘appalling’ how women are treated in Australia.

Exclusive: A British activist who successfully brought a UK court case which determined a woman is someone born biologically female said she is astonished that women are being treated like “second-class citizens” in Australia.

Mother-of-three Susan Smith said she is still overcoming last month’s massive legal win after Supreme Court judge Lord Hodge delivered an 88-page judgment that found “the definition of the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex”, excluding transgender people.

Susan Smith (L) and Marion Calder, directors of 'For Women Scotland' speak to the media outside the Supreme Court. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

For Women Scotland had argued that sex-based protections should only apply to people born female and won their case in court. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Mrs Smith, who is a co-founder of the group For Women Scotland, said she is shocked by recent comments made by Australia’s sex discrimination chief Anna Cody after the court victory.

Ms Cody said the two nations’ laws differ: “The laws in the UK are not the laws of Australia. Our laws should reflect inclusion, respect and the right of all people to live with dignity”.

Mrs Smith, 53, said: “I find this extraordinary that human rights are now being framed as men’s demands rather than women’s needs and I think that’s really despicable.

Sex discrimination commissioner Dr Anna Cody. Picture: Supplied

For Women Scotland director Susan Smith at her home in Edinburgh, UK (with her dog Scout). Picture: Sophie Elsworth

“What she (Ms Cody) is effectively saying is that there is a group of men to whom we cannot say no and they have to be allowed to do whatever they want when they want.

“I’m afraid that quote (by Ms Cody) just illustrates that she is happy for women to be second-class citizens and that’s an appalling reflection.

“To have lost their minds (in Australia) over whether or not you can work out which is a man and which is a woman is quite extraordinary”.

In 2024 transgender person Roxanne Tickle was victorious in a discrimination case in the Federal Court after she was refused access to a female social media app, Giggle for Girls, on the basis of being a male.

Roxanne Tickle leaves the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney. Piture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Justice Robert Bromwich determined that sex is “changeable”.

Tickle was born a male but who underwent a surgical sex change in 2019.

The matter is being appealed by Giggle for Girls founder Sall Grover.

Mrs Smith said the victory in the UK Supreme Court was “100 per cent worth it”.

The group began their battle in 2018, but Mrs Smith said it took off after being backed by British author J.K. Rowling.

British writer JK Rowling has been outspoken on transgender rights. Picture: Tolga Akmen / AFP

“That was a major game changer because it felt like we were up against everything then somebody with a high profile was prepared to publicly put their name to it,” she said.

“We got a bit more credibility and attention”.

But Mrs Smith said the fight is far from over as many organisations including public bodies are being forced to overhaul their policies to ensure women-only spaces are dedicated for biological women only.

“The Scottish government is currently kicking the can down the road because they have said they are waiting for new guidance,” she said.

“They don’t need new guidance, they have got the ruling”.

Last month Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said the government “accepts the judgement of the Supreme Court” and new sex-based rights guidance is being created.

Originally published as UK activist Susan Smith says Aussie women are treated as ‘second-class citizens’