August 2025
Abigail*, a transgender woman, lodged a discrimination complaint with Anti-Discrimination NSW (ADNSW) saying that her local council’s planning department had discriminated against her by refusing her a service, or by providing her with services on less favourable terms.
ADNSW investigated the matter by speaking with both parties. Abigail said that when she was contacted by the council about a planning issue, the officer she spoke to challenged her about having a female name saying: “Abigail is a female name and you’re obviously not female”. Abigail said this forced her to disclose that she is transgender. Abigail said the officer then “tut tutted” and sniggered at her, before becoming rude and hanging up the phone.
The council told ADNSW that it had looked into the complaint. The officer denied making the comments Abigail described and said that she had become aggressive during the call when she didn’t get the answers she wanted about the planning matter. The officer claimed that he warned her he would end the call if her behaviour continued. The council also said it continued to provide services to Abigail.
Abigail stood by her version of events and said her partner, who had overheard the call, was willing to give evidence if the matter went to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The matter was resolved at a conciliation conference via MS Teams, when Abigail accepted the council’s undertaking to provide training to its officers on LGBTQI+ awareness. Abigail also accepted a monetary payment for general damages.
*Name has been changed to protect the privacy of the individual.
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