Category: Opinion
Albanese won big, Peter Dutton lost his seat, and the Liberal Party elected its first female leader, Sussan Ley. Meanwhile, anti-trans politics flopped, and fringe religious parties were trounced. Craig Young asks what this means for Australia and its favourite neighbour? In just a few short weeks, the Australian political landscape has undergone a significant […]
Craig Young explores the long history of sex scandals in New Zealand politics—from consensual affairs to criminal acts—and asks what the Michael Forbes resignation says about Christopher Luxon’s leadership. The recent resignation of Michael Forbes, deputy chief press secretary to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, following a police investigation, reopens a familiar chapter in politics: the […]
Jessie Lewthwaite reflects on her first corporate Pride and questions why major brands are scaling back in 2025. Is this the end of rainbow capitalism or a wake-up call for authentic allyship? When I was a fresh-faced queer in Melbourne, I attended my first corporate-sponsored Pride event. I won’t name the brand—legal dramas aren’t something […]
New Zealand’s Health Tribunal has fined former doctor Samantha Bailey over YouTube videos disputing the existence and transmission of HIV, citing public health risks and misinformation. A former New Zealand doctor and television presenter, Dr Samantha Bailey, has come under renewed scrutiny for online content that disputes established medical science on HIV. As reported in […]
Craig Young shares his views on public concern over the Family First event featuring controversial activists. Family First has re-emerged with its annual Forum on the Family, a platform traditionally used to connect overseas and New Zealand-based Christian Right activists. This year’s event again includes speakers with a history of promoting anti-LGBTQI+, anti-abortion, and socially […]
As trans communities in the US and UK face a surge in anti-rights legislation, Jennifer Shields urges Aotearoa to take heed—these global trends carry urgent warnings for our future. A lot has unfolded internationally over the past year—especially since the beginning of 2025—that directly impacts trans communities. The pace of change can be overwhelming, but […]
Jessie Lewthwaite notes how far our communities have come by standing together, united as one. When I was living in rural Australia, there wasn’t a whole lot to do, so my girlfriend and I found ourselves wandering the local Kmart on a Friday night. Browsing without purpose, I suddenly heard the sound every teacher dreads […]
Jacquie Grant ONZM revisits 1974 and NZ’s progressive legacy for trans rights as Aotearoa’s legal precedent faces political challenge from Winston Peters. Could such a thing happen in Aotearoa? It already has in the United Kingdom—trans women are no longer classified as female under the law. Authorities maintain that protections against discrimination remain, but to […]