Tasmania court rules on women's lounge men entry ban
- Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) successfully appealed a tribunal decision that required the Ladies Lounge to admit men, which was initially closed due to a discrimination complaint.
- The state supreme court ruled that the Ladies Lounge qualifies for an exemption under the anti-discrimination act, as it aims to promote equal opportunity for women.
- The decision has been celebrated by the artist and museum representatives as a significant victory for women's rights and a challenge to existing gender inequalities.
The Ladies Lounge at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) has been at the center of a legal dispute following a discrimination complaint from a male visitor. Initially closed by a tribunal that mandated the admission of men, the installation was challenged in the state supreme court. On Friday, the court ruled that the Ladies Lounge is exempt from the anti-discrimination act, as it serves to promote equal opportunity for women by providing a space that highlights gender disparities. Justice Shane Marshall emphasized that the Ladies Lounge is designed to showcase the advantages women can experience in a society where they are often disadvantaged. The ruling acknowledged the ongoing inequalities faced by women, supported by evidence from the government's 2024 Status of Women report, which indicated prevalent negative biases against women's participation in various sectors. The artist Kirsha Kaechele and Mona's legal team argued that the installation is a participatory artwork that challenges existing power imbalances. The court's decision quashed the tribunal's earlier ruling, which had mischaracterized the purpose of the Ladies Lounge. The judge noted that the exclusion of men from this space is integral to the artwork's message. This ruling has been hailed as a triumph for women's rights, with Kaechele expressing gratitude for the attention the case has drawn to gender issues. The museum will await further instructions from the tribunal before reopening the Ladies Lounge, which has sparked international discussions about gender equality and social structures.