MEDIA RELEASE – QUESTIONS TO ANSWER OVER LABOR’S WAR ON WOMEN

Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia

14 NOVEMBER 2025

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER OVER LABOR’S WAR ON WOMEN

The Albanese Government has serious questions to answer after revelations it intervened against a United Nations official for daring to defend women’s sex-based rights.

As reported by The Australian, documents show that Labor’s handpicked Ambassador for Gender Equality, Stephanie Copus Campbell, told senior public servants that the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, Reem Alsalem, had taken a “difficult position” on transgender rights that “doesn’t conform with our views.”

Even more disturbingly, parts of the transcript describing how the Government was “directly engaging” to deal with Ms Alsalem were redacted on the grounds that their release could damage Australia’s international relations.

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Michaelia Cash said: “If this Government has been working behind closed doors to undermine and silence a woman who speaks up for the rights of women and girls, it is a national disgrace.”

“Minister Penny Wong must front up and answer this simple question: did your Government attempt to silence a woman for defending women’s rights?’’ she said.

“Australia used to lead the world in standing up for women and girls. Under Labor, it’s now leading the charge to silence them,’’ Senator Cash said.

“If Labor now believes “woman” no longer means adult human female, Penny Wong must tell Australians when, how, and under whose authority that definition changed,” she said.

The Coalition stands firmly with women and with those like Ms Alsalem who have the courage to defend the truth that sex matters.

Minister Wong cannot hide behind bureaucratic spin. Australians deserve answers, and women deserve respect not silencing.

ENDS