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Anti-trans activist and Binary Australia spokesperson Kirralie Smith has been ordered to pay $95,000 in fines and issue a public apology after she was found to have vilified two trans women earlier this year.
On August 23, Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund found that Smith and Binary Australia- formerly anti-marriage equality group Marriage Alliance- incited hatred and serious contempt for two women, who were targeted after playing football with their local clubs.
It marked the first time someone had been found to have unlawfully vilified a person for being trans under NSW law.
Smith published a series of posts on X over several months in 2023 and 2024 specifically targeting trans individuals, broadcasting their faces, names, and the dates and locations where their teams would be playing to more than 30,000 followers.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Freund found that the vilification provisions under NSW law are valid and do not infringe the implied freedom of political communication under the Commonwealth Constitution.
The $95,000 fine must be paid within 28 days, after which it will double.
Smith has said she will be appealing the decision.