Report Validates Discrimination Against Councillor for Transgender Beliefs

A political dispute has been brewing at Hobart City Council for the past nine months regarding the booking of a venue.

In September 2023, Councillor Louise Elliot tried to reserve the Town Hall ballroom for a private community forum on women’s rights and free speech.

The request was rejected by council staff due to concerns about discussing political views on transgender individuals in sports and facility access.

After legal battles and conciliation efforts, a special meeting on July 3 will address a report with the investigation’s findings.

The report published last week confirmed that Louise Elliot was unfairly treated, discriminated against, and denied procedural fairness.

The report acknowledged the unfair treatment of Louise Elliot and offered an apology on behalf of the Council.

It was revealed that Ms. Elliot’s booking request was unlawfully blocked without due process.

The Council was also criticized for failing to provide information requested under the Right to Information (RTI) law.

The Council apologized for the conduct outlined in the report, expressing support for diversity and a commitment to anti-discrimination principles.

Louise Elliot had filed a complaint with Equal Opportunity Tasmania (EOT) regarding the discrimination she faced.

According to the report, the Council’s staff wrongly assumed that a well-known women’s rights activist, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, would speak at the forum.

Staff cited security and workplace health and safety concerns without conducting a proper risk assessment.

The report also revealed the unauthorized release of Ms. Elliot’s booking information to external parties.

Councillor Calls the Acts ‘Bullying’

Louise Elliot criticized the Council, stating that discrimination has been an ongoing issue, and this incident was a culmination of bullying targeting her beliefs.

She highlighted previous attempts by the Council to hinder events focusing on gender ideology, women, and children.

Ms. Elliot emphasized the inconsistency between the Council’s campaigns and their actions.

She commended the whistleblower and right to information laws for exposing and addressing the misconduct in the Council.

Council Keen to ‘Move Forward And Learn From Mistakes’

In response, Chief Executive Officer Michael Stretton acknowledged the unacceptable behavior and emphasized the need to improve governance, performance, and culture within the organization.

The Council has initiated leadership development and discrimination training programs to foster collaboration and cooperation.

Mr. Stretton urged a collective effort to learn from mistakes, work constructively, and align with the community’s vision of creating a better Hobart.