News.com.au coverage of alleged axe attacker’s transgender status in public interest, rules Press Council
The Press Council has ruled news.com.au’s controversial coverage of a 7-Eleven axe attack early this year which referenced the accused’s transgender status did not breach any of its reporting principles.
The article – published on January 10 with the headline ‘Woman accused of terrifying 7-Eleven axe attack is transgender unionist once known as Karl’ – reported on a transgender woman arrested and charged in relation to an axe attack in Sydney.
It reported on the woman’s life before transitioning and had formerly been known as ‘Karl’, with the article including Facebook posts she made in 2012 about her transition.
