Federal court ruling a blow to women's rights

Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash

Shadow Attorney-General
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia

Melissa McIntosh MP

Shadow Minister for Women
Federal Member for Lindsay

15 MAY 2026

FEDERAL COURT RULING A BLOW TO WOMEN’S RIGHTS

The Federal Court has today upheld the original finding in the Tickle v Giggle case ruling that the Giggle for Girls app unlawfully discriminated against Roxanne Tickle.

This decision will be deeply distressing for many Australians particularly the women and girls who feel their hard-won rights have been ignored.

Women's changerooms, refuges, shelters, hospital wards and prisons were built to protect vulnerable women and girls. Today's ruling puts all of that at risk.

The Coalition's position is clear: women have a right to feel safe. Full stop. Single-sex spaces exist for a reason - safety, privacy, dignity and fairness and the Coalition will never stop standing up for those rights.

No woman should have to spend years in court and hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend common sense. Sall Grover did exactly that, and she deserves enormous credit for her courage.

Ms Grover retains the right to appeal to the High Court. Given what is at stake for women and girls across Australia, it is right that any further appeal be allowed to run its course.

The UK Supreme Court ruled unanimously last year that sex means biological sex. Five judges. Unanimous. Australia's law should be just as clear.

The Coalition will continue to stand up for the safety, privacy and fairness that Australian women and girls expect.

ENDS