The activist, Elon Musk and Trump's free speech gripe with Australia
In March, in a drab hearing room of the Administrative Review Tribunal in Melbourne, lawyers spent five days going back and forth about a post on social media platform X from a Canadian anti-trans activist and whether it should have been removed from the internet.
Now, a year after that post was published, the case has caught the attention of the Trump administration, which is accusing Australia – among other countries – of coercing American technology companies into egregious censorship.
With the White House warning that it is out to enforce free speech around the world, the matter has the potential to creep into high-stakes trade talks between the United States and the re-elected Albanese government.
'The administration has been really straightforward,' David Inserra, a fellow at the Cato Institute, a free market Washington think tank, says. 'They view these types of actions as assaults on American competitiveness.'
What happened?
Chris Elston describes himself as a father of two girls who 'decided to take a stand against gender ideology'. In practice, that means regularly touring the streets of North America – and the world – with billboards that say: 'Children cannot consent to puberty blockers'.
It also means publishing a constant stream of anti-transgender material on social media, where he is known as Billboard Chris. Elston rejects the 'anti-trans' label. 'I cannot be anti something that doesn't exist,' he says. 'I am pro-child.'
In late February 2024, Elston read a Daily Mail article about Teddy Cook, an Australian trans man and activist who was then the community health director at NSW charity ACON, which advocates for the LGBTQ+ community and on HIV/AIDS. The article purported to reveal Cook's 'kinky track record' and questioned his appointment to a World Health Organisation advisory body on transgender issues.
Elston posted a link to the article on X, the Elon Musk-owned platform formerly called Twitter. 'This woman (yes, she's female) is part of a panel of 20 'experts' hired by the @WHO to draft their policy on caring for 'trans people',' Elston wrote, before questioning Cook's suitability for the appointment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
ASX extends gains on US-China talk hopes; Monash plummets on IVF bungle
The Australian sharemarket extended its gains in early afternoon, buoyed by hopes constructive talks between the US and China will ease global trade tensions as officials struck a positive tone after the first day of negotiations. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 64.7 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 8580.49 as of 1.11pm AEST. Nine of the 11 industry sectors rose, with banks, consumer and energy stocks leading the gains. CBA hit a fresh record high, while Monash shares plummeted following news of another IVF bungle. The bourse was closed on Monday for the King's Birthday holiday. The Australian dollar strengthened overnight, and was flat at US65.18¢ at 1.13pm AEST. American and Chinese officials met in London on Monday to talk about a range of different disputes that are separating them. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the discussions were 'fruitful' and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cited a 'good meeting'. 'We are doing well with China. China's not easy,' President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House. 'I'm only getting good reports.' The advisers will meet again on Tuesday at 10am in London, according to a US official, as the two sides look to ease tensions over shipments of technology and rare earth elements. Loading Markets across Asia edged up as traders closely followed the talks between the two economic superpowers. On the ASX, consumer discretionary and financial stocks led the local market higher as investors stepped up their bets for a de-escalation of the global trade war. 'There's this growing optimism again that the negotiations will ultimately reach an agreement,' said Takeru Ogihara, a Tokyo-based executive strategist at Asset Management One. 'If the US and China can come together, it will be a positive development for the global economy.'
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Australia dives into the big blue as key climate ally
Australia has joined seven other nations pledging to harness the power of the ocean to cut emissions under the global climate pact. Capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and much of the excess heat caused by more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the sea is considered crucial in the fight against climate change. Brazil and France have used the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice as a launch pad for the "Blue NDC Challenge", a commitment to embedding ocean solutions into climate goals. Under the Paris Agreement, nation states must refresh their plans to slash greenhouse gas emissions every five years. September has been marked as the hard cut-off for nationally determined contributions for 2035 ahead of November's COP30 in Brazil, with Australia - like most of its peers - missing an earlier deadline. Environment Minister Murray Watt highlighted "significant" blue solutions to climate change, including conserving and restoring marine habitat. "We acknowledge the links being drawn between the Paris agreement and the ocean program this year, as we approach a decade of the Paris agreement," he said. Australia has joined the two instigating nations, Brazil and France, as well as Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and the Republic of Seychelles as early movers. The voluntary challenge invites countries to consider marine avenues for climate regulation, such as conserving and restoring mangrove forests and seagrass meadows. It further calls for the expansion of ocean energy, including offshore wind, and phasing out offshore oil and gas industries. Australian Marine Conservation Society fossil fuels campaign manager Louise Morris welcomed Australia's commitment at the conference, but questioned its credibility after extending the life of the North West Shelf gas project. "Signing the Blue NDC sends an important signal - but unless it's backed by action, including a clear plan to phase out offshore oil and gas, it risks being just another PR commitment without teeth," Ms Morris said. Progress on the high seas treaty has also been logged at the third UN Ocean Conference, hosted by France and Costa Rica. French President Emmanuel Macron expects the 60 necessary ratifications to come through in time for the treaty to come into force by January 2026, Reuters has reported. The agreement will allow nations to set up marine parks in international waters. The Labor government has pledged to ratify the treaty as a priority in its second term. Other commitments from Senator Watt on his first overseas venture as environment minister include better protecting Australian marine biodiversity. He is aiming for 30 per cent of the nation's waters to be "highly protected areas" by 2030. As much as 44 per cent of Australian waters are classified as marine parks, but not all those zones are fully protected from fishing and industrial activity.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Australia dives into the big blue as key climate ally
Australia has joined seven other nations pledging to harness the power of the ocean to cut emissions under the global climate pact. Capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and much of the excess heat caused by more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the sea is considered crucial in the fight against climate change. Brazil and France have used the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice as a launch pad for the "Blue NDC Challenge", a commitment to embedding ocean solutions into climate goals. Under the Paris Agreement, nation states must refresh their plans to slash greenhouse gas emissions every five years. September has been marked as the hard cut-off for nationally determined contributions for 2035 ahead of November's COP30 in Brazil, with Australia - like most of its peers - missing an earlier deadline. Environment Minister Murray Watt highlighted "significant" blue solutions to climate change, including conserving and restoring marine habitat. "We acknowledge the links being drawn between the Paris agreement and the ocean program this year, as we approach a decade of the Paris agreement," he said. Australia has joined the two instigating nations, Brazil and France, as well as Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and the Republic of Seychelles as early movers. The voluntary challenge invites countries to consider marine avenues for climate regulation, such as conserving and restoring mangrove forests and seagrass meadows. It further calls for the expansion of ocean energy, including offshore wind, and phasing out offshore oil and gas industries. Australian Marine Conservation Society fossil fuels campaign manager Louise Morris welcomed Australia's commitment at the conference, but questioned its credibility after extending the life of the North West Shelf gas project. "Signing the Blue NDC sends an important signal - but unless it's backed by action, including a clear plan to phase out offshore oil and gas, it risks being just another PR commitment without teeth," Ms Morris said. Progress on the high seas treaty has also been logged at the third UN Ocean Conference, hosted by France and Costa Rica. French President Emmanuel Macron expects the 60 necessary ratifications to come through in time for the treaty to come into force by January 2026, Reuters has reported. The agreement will allow nations to set up marine parks in international waters. The Labor government has pledged to ratify the treaty as a priority in its second term. Other commitments from Senator Watt on his first overseas venture as environment minister include better protecting Australian marine biodiversity. He is aiming for 30 per cent of the nation's waters to be "highly protected areas" by 2030. As much as 44 per cent of Australian waters are classified as marine parks, but not all those zones are fully protected from fishing and industrial activity.
