Grace Tame Cites 'Smear Campaign' Amid Speaking Engagement Cancellations
Grace Tame, a former Australian of the Year, has announced that she has no further speaking engagements scheduled for the remainder of the year. She attributes these cancellations to an "ongoing smear campaign" against her. This announcement was made during a presentation at the No to Violence national conference in Hobart, which she referred to as her final presentation for the year.
Speaking Engagements Halted Amid Alleged Smear Campaign
Ms. Tame stated that she had lost three speaking engagements related to child safety due to what she described as an "ongoing media smear campaign." During her Hobart speech, she clarified that she does not support violence, antisemitism, Islamophobia, or any form of hatred, and commented on feeling she is contending with a "well-oiled political machine."
Phillip Ripper, chief executive of No to Violence, acknowledged an organized effort involving letters, phone calls, and approaches to other speakers aimed at removing Ms. Tame from the conference program. Mr. Ripper did not identify the source of this pressure.
Mr. Ripper called on organizations that have withdrawn Ms. Tame's bookings to reinstate them, emphasizing her role as a courageous victim-survivor.
The 'Intifada' Controversy
These developments follow an attempt by the Australian Jewish Association to cancel Ms. Tame's appearance at an International Women's Day event in Bendigo last month. The organizer, Be.Bendigo, proceeded with her appearance, stating a commitment to "respectful, constructive conversations."
The attempt to cancel her appearance followed Ms. Tame's participation in a Sydney protest against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, where she led a chant of "globalise the intifada." The term "intifada" translates to "shaking off" in Arabic and has historically referred to periods of violent Palestinian protest against Israel.
The phrase "intifada" holds different interpretations: some members of the Jewish community perceive it as a call for violence, while many Palestinians associate it with the struggle for self-determination.
The NSW government is currently considering whether to outlaw the phrase under revised hate speech laws, and Queensland has recently banned its use if intended to menace or offend.
Advocacy for Child Safety Remains Central
During her address at the Hobart conference, Ms. Tame, a survivor of child sexual abuse, discussed the rapid increase in AI-generated child exploitation material, which she characterized as a "global public health emergency." She highlighted the enduring impact of child sexual abuse on victim-survivors.
Her presentation included data on offending behaviors and attitudes, suggesting that individuals involved in child sexual abuse are often older, married, socially supported, and exhibit intensive and frequent internet use. Ms. Tame also noted the recent removal of the word "relationship" from criminal charges related to child sexual abuse.
Ms. Tame's advocacy includes efforts to promote legal reform allowing victim-survivors of child sexual abuse to speak publicly, a practice previously banned in Tasmania. She has addressed systemic failures in identifying child abusers and how institutions may enable abuse by disregarding whistleblowers. She also shared the significant personal impact of extended sexual abuse, including physical and emotional trauma.
According to Ms. Tame, child abuse is Australia's most under-reported crime, with a conviction rate of 0.3 percent. She stated that out of 1000 reports of child sexual abuse, 100 are represented in court, six result in conviction, and three are overturned on appeal.