Who is Antoinette (Tony) Briffa?

Although my birth name and legal name is Antoinette Briffa, and I’m better known as Tony Briffa.  I was first elected to the Hobsons Bay City Council in 2008, and was re-elected in 2012, 2016 and 2020.  In August 2024 I announced that I would not seek a fifth term of office when my term came to an end on 26 October 2024.

During my time on the Council I served as Mayor in 2011-12 and 2022-23, and as Deputy Mayor in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2017-18.

I have lived in the local area all my life.  I was born in Altona, went to schools in Altona (St Mary’s Help of Christians and then Mt St Joseph’s Girls’ College), worked on various local community campaigns and eventually became Convenor of the local residents’ association.  I care about our community, environment, history and future and about the types of services and infrastructure we have in the local area.

Here are some details about me:

• Member, Victorian Local Government Mayoral Advisory Panel 2023
• Co-Chair, Victorian Government’s Intersex Expert Advisory Committee
• Justice of the Peace (Victoria) (2005 – present)
• Member, Victorian LGBTIQ Taskforce
• Patron, Equality Australia
• Pride Ambassador, Victorian Pride Centre
• Vice-Chair, Intersex Human Rights Australia (former Co-Executive Director)
• Honorary Fellow, Victoria University
• Honorary Life Member, Hobsons Bay Maltese Association
• Bail Justice (Victoria) Retired (2007-2019)
• Former President, Intersex Peer Support Australia
• Former Intersex Chair, ILGA World (International LGBTI Association)
• Former Board Secretary, ILGA World (International LGBTI Association)
• Awarded Outstanding 50 LGBTI+ Leaders 2017
• Awarded MAV Local Government Fellowship 2009 (Human Rights)
• Public Speaker
• LGBT and Intersex Consultant & Educator
• Former Chair of various council committees including the Multicultural Committee, Disability Advisory Committee, Multifaith Committee, Urban Development Advisory Group, Police Community Consultative Committee and LGBTIQ Advisory Committee;
• Foster carer (1996-2010)
• Mum to a wonderful adopted son
• Former member of the Department of Defence and Australian Federal Police
• Former Convenor, Hobsons Bay Residents Association
• Former member of the Altona Lions and Hobsons Bay Arts Society
• Former President of various support groups for people with genetic variations
• Current Working with Children Check

I have never accepted donations from developers or business for my election campaigns.  I am a proud local independent Councillor whose focus is on representing the local community and not a political party or big business.  All of my election material is self funded, and I constantly maintain a website and social media connection to residents – it’s not just at election time!

I am a passionate advocate for the communities I serve and have been a part of all my life.  I have been able to achieve much in my years on the council by working with local residents, community groups, local businesses and other councillors, and it has been an honour serving our community as Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor.

Proud member of the LGBTIQA+ community…

Tony’s birth name (and legal name) is Antoinette.  When she was born at the Altona Hospital, doctors noticed some lumps in her groin.  After many medical tests to determine what they were, doctors confirmed Antoinette was female, the lumps in her groin were her gonads and that she was born with an intersex variation called Androgen Insensitivity.  Despite a childhood involving much medical intervention and lies and old fashioned attitudes about what it means to be a girl, Antoinette succeeded in her professional and personal life.  However, after a life changing experience she decided to go public about her true self and that she was born with biological sex characteristics that are mainly female, but with some internal male traits too; that is, she was born with an intersex variation.  The impact of this decision had major consequences on her life, but still led to her being elected as the first openly intersex public official in the world.

Tony has been a public intersex human rights advocate for 25 years and served the board of Intersex Peer Support Australia (formerly the AIS Support Group Australia) for 22 years (including approximately 10 years as President).  Tony is also a Vice Chair of Intersex Human Rights Australia (and a former Co-Executive Director) and the former Intersex Chair of ILGA World. 

Tony’s story has featured on numerous television programs, radio programs and articles including twice on 60 Minutes (2000 and 2005), the Project and ABC.  Tony has spoken at numerous conferences focusing on diversity, resilience, disability, human rights, LGBTI issues, intersex rights, trans / transgender issues, sex & gender, LBTI women, multicultural issues and local government leadership and services.  Tony has also provided training and consultancy services to many government departments and other organisations, and has received numerous awards such as the “Top 50 LGBTI Leaders Award” in 2017.

Tony is married to Manja (having married in New Zealand in 2013 prior to Australia permitting marriage equality), a proud parent of an adult son, Maltese, and an aviation specialist (Engineer, auditor, consultant and instructor) in their professional life.

The National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education (NICHE) created a wonderful animation about Tony’s life as an intersex person as part of their “Your Story” campaign.  To see the animation, click here: – Tony Briffa’s experiences as an intersex person

To read an article by Tony about her experiences as the world’s first openly intersex mayor, click here.