Hobart transgender rights rally: Police investigating whether ‘physical contact’ was made
Police are looking into claims of physical contact between protesters during demonstrations outside Parliament House on Tuesday. LATEST >
Tasmania
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Police are looking into claims of physical contact between protesters during demonstrations outside Parliament House on Tuesday.
Hundreds of pro-transgender rights supporters rallied against a small group with opposing views on Tuesday.
The following day, Greens leader Cassy O’Connor made claims one of the protesters was assaulted and called for an investigation.
Women Speak Tasmania has also made claims of assault and threatening behaviour.
A Tasmania Police spokeswoman said police were investigating the claims, although no formal complaints had been made.
“Following the protest on Tuesday, police are investigating several instances where a small number of people may have had physical contact with people in the opposing group.
“At this stage police have not received any formal complaints.”
Woman ‘assaulted on doorstep of democracy’ during trans row: Greens
The Tasmanian Greens have called on police to investigate an alleged incident at Tuesday’s competing transgender rallies outside state parliament, claiming a transgender rights supporter was assaulted.
Video appearing to show a woman pushing and shoving another protester at the event has aired on social media.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor, who was among the pro-transgender rights protesters, demanded Premier Jeremy Rockliff take action.
“Yesterday outside this place, love and inclusion resoundingly defeated hate and exclusion,” she told state parliament on Wednesday.
“The counter-protest to fake feminist hate preacher Kellie-Jay Keen, amid support of the rainbow community, was one of the most powerful events I have seen in my time in politics.
“Had you attended, you would have seen the LGBTI+ community and trans defenders outnumber by about 50 to one Kellie-Jay Keen supporters.
“You would also have witnessed the assault of a young woman on our parliament steps — the doorstep of our democracy — being struck and shoved repeatedly by one of the TERFs. It has been captured on video.”
TERF, an acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist, is a term used to refer to those considered hostile to transgender people.
Mr Rockliff said anyone with a complaint should contact police.
“I am aware of some of the circumstances of yesterday’s rally. I will never condone and will always condemn any assault or attack in the strongest possible terms,” he said.
It is an operational matter for the police. I am sure the police service will take great interest in some of the matters of yesterday and will act accordingly.
IN PHOTOS: LGBTQI+ COMMUNITY DROWN OUT ANTI-TRANS RALLY
Attempts by an anti-transgender rights group to hold a rally on Parliament Lawns have been drowned out by an overwhelming turnout of their opponents.
Counter-demonstrators from Tasmania’s LGBTQI+ community and their supporters made the most of their ten-to-one numerical advantage, pushing the smaller group back onto the steps of parliament and chanting over their attempts to speak.
A strong police presence prevented any incidents of physical violence and there were no arrests during the 90-minute-long event.
Around 40 anti-transgender rights activists from the Let Women Speak campaign including British anti-transgender rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull — who also goes by Posie Parker — attempted to hold their rally around 12.30pm.
They were met by hundreds of those opposing their views, including Greens and Labor MPs.
As Ms Keen-Minshull attempted to speak, she was drowned out by chants of “Go Home Posie, Go Home!” and “Tassie doesn’t want you here.”
Her appearance at a similar event in Melbourne on Saturday was marred by the presence of a group of neo-Nazis. None were seen at the Hobart event.
Tuesday’s events began with a colourful vigil by supporters of transgender rights, but as the Let Women Speak activists began their event they were surrounded and drowned out by chants including “Posie Parker you can’t hide you’ve got Nazis on your side”.
The group retreated into the adjacent carpark where they were again surrounded by their opponents who kept up a steady stream of chants, catcalls and jeering.
Attempts by a number of speakers, including Hobart City councillor Louise Elliot, were completely drowned out as were several speakers who attempted to follow.
Isla McGregor from Women Speak Tasmania said organisers had contacted Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Felix Ellis to complain of “severe bullying, harassment, noise abuse, and being spat on”.
“Many protesters begged members of Tasmania Police to protect them. They refused,’ she said.
“I am calling on the Minister for Police to conduct an immediate inquiry into the failure of Tasmania Police officers to enforce law and order and compliance with police permit conditions.”
The rally ended shortly after 1.30pm when Ms Keen-Minshull departed without comment in a car driven by supporters.
The vehicle was ticketed by council parking inspectors during the rally.
Anger over ‘fake feminists’ allowed to rally in Hobart
A group that held a demonstration that attracted neo-Nazis in Melbourne at the weekend has been given the go-ahead to continue with plans for an event on parliament Lawns on Tuesday.
Saturday’s rally held by anti-transgender activists from Let Women Speak was also attended by a group of men who gave Nazi salutes.
Tuesday’s event — which is expected to be addressed by British anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull — will attract a counter demonstration from LGBTQI+ groups and their supporters.
Both groups attempted to stymie the others’s event by seeking for permission to use the venue be withdrawn.
House of Assembly Speaker Mark Shelton and Legislative Council president Craig Farrell on Monday issued a statement saying “censoring free speech is not in the interest of a democratic society”.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said there was no room for hate speech in Tasmania.
“This group stood shoulder-to-shoulder solidarity with Nazis in Melbourne. They share an ideology of demonising a minority – transgender people,” she said.
“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.”
Liberal Minister Guy Barnett called for calm and peaceful debate.
“What is important from our point of view as a government is the importance of free speech … it needs to be respectful of all involved whether it’s at the even, those surrounding the even and the public more generally,” he said.
Rose Boccalatte from Equality Tasmania said it was unfortunate that permission had been given for the rally.
“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.”
Parliament is expected to debate laws banning the public of Nazi symbols soon.
Comment was sought from Women Speak Tasmania.
Nazi-supported anti-trans activist’s visit sparks concern
The visit to Hobart on Tuesday by anti-trans activist, Kelly-Jay Keen-Minshull, who was supported by Nazis in Melbourne is “deeply concerning”, Equality Tasmania says.
She is expected to speak at parliament lawns, and Equality Tasmania will hold a vigil at noon “for supporters of inclusion and diversity”.
“Parliament House, the home of Tasmanian democracy, should not be giving a platform to speakers who attract Nazi sympathisers,” Equality Tasmania spokesperson, Rose Boccalatte said.
“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.”
Equality Tasmania President Rodney Croome said it was vital the government’s proposed law against Nazi symbols also banned 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,” he said.
“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.”
State parliament returns on Tuesday and the government will introduce landmark legislation to ban the display of Nazi symbols.
Government minister Nic Street said the legislation was timely after protesters performed the Nazi salute during an anti-transgender rally in Melbourne.
“You’ve got to look no further than to see what happened in Victoria yesterday to see how important that bill is going to be,” he said.
Mr Street said banning a Nazi salute was not part of the legislation but would be considered in future if needed.
Labor justice spokesperson Ella Haddad said the outbreaks of violence in Melbourne were “extremely concerning” and it was worrying that the same UK speaker planned to attend an event in Hobart this week.
She said the government’s bill did 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,” Ms Haddad said.
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