Tasmania's decision to ban biological men from women's prisons has exposed the failure of South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas to take seriously the safety of women in his state's correctional system.
Family First Upper House candidate Deepa Mathew said the Tasmanian move, following the Northern Territory's earlier ban, proves this is no longer be fobbed off by the Premier as a "niche issue".
"Tasmania has done what every government committed to women's safety should do — uphold biological reality and common sense," Ms Mathew said.
Tasmania acted after a paedophile who raped his own three daughter demanded to be placed in a woman's prison. Victoria is currently housing a similar child sex offender in a woman's prison.
"The South Australian Premier can no longer brush this off as fringe. Women in our prisons are being placed at risk by male offenders who claim a female identity."
The issue has become urgent following shocking reports of assaults in South Australian women's prisons by violent male inmate Krista Richards. "These women are among the most vulnerable in our society — many have already suffered sexual violence and trauma. To expose them again to male-bodied offenders is cruel and indefensible," Ms Mathew said.
She commended Tasmanian Attorney-General Guy Barnett for putting the safety of women first and urged Premier Malinauskas to follow suit. "The Premier's refusal to act sends the message that ideology matters more than the safety of women," she said. "He should immediately order that no biological male, regardless of gender identity, be housed in a women's facility."
"Protecting women's spaces — whether prisons, refuges, or changerooms — is not about discrimination. It's about safeguarding dignity, privacy, and safety. Tasmania and the NT have recognised that. South Australia must too."
Ms Mathew and Family First supporters will be in attendance at today's rally organised by Women's Forum Australia on the steps of the SA Parliament.
