Grace Tame

Early life Tame was born in Hobart in 1994. He was found in possession of child pornography. which sold out quickly and garnered a huge amount of coverage in the press and on social media. In her talk, Tame revealed that a "senior member" of a government-funded organisation had phoned her and, she felt, in a threatening way, asked her not to criticise the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, in her outgoing Australian of the Year speech, in the light of the forthcoming election. (Morrison denied any involvement in or knowledge of the request.) Both women advocated strongly for structural change, saying the time for talking was past.

The media

At an Australia Day Eve event honouring the 2025 Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australian Local Hero, hosted by prime minister Anthony Albanese, Tame wore a T-shirt that read "Fuck Murdoch" when she was greeted by the Prime Minister. Tame said "[The T-shirt is] clearly not just about Murdoch, it's the obscene greed, inhumanity and disconnection that he symbolises, which are destroying our planet". Tame told the ABC that the awards program was a "platform for making change".

Pro-Palestine advocacy Following the 2025 Capital Jewish Museum shooting in Washington, Tame shared a social media post that said "It's despicable, and nothing short of journalistic malpractice, that the media class is scrambling to reframe the shooting that targeted two Israeli state officials as a random anti-Semitic attack". Sportswear company Nike terminated its partnership with her in June 2025, citing concerns of "antisemitism".

In February 2026, during a protest against a visit by Israeli president Isaac Herzog, Tame described Herzog as a man who "signed his name on bombs that were used to kill women and men and children. And a man who also said, and I quote, 'There are no innocent civilians in Gaza'". She led protesters in a chant "from Gadigal to Gaza, globalise the intifada!"

In the weeks prior to the protest against Herzog, the NSW state government had stated its intention to outlaw the phrase "globalise the Intifada" under revised hate speech laws, following the 2025 Bondi Beach shooting. The National Council of Jewish Women of Australia and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce also called for the award to be rescinded. Australian Greens leader Larissa Waters said Tame "deserves every accolade that she's received". In response, Tame told her social media followers "politicians and the press can deflect on me all they like, but I'm not the story".

In March 2026, in response to an interview question on sexual violence during the October 7 attacks, Tame stated that "those things have been de-bunked" and that "she wouldn't sink to the level of entertaining any propaganda". In response she was criticised by the Israeli embassy in Canberra and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. The president of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia stated that her comments amounted to denial of the October 7 attacks.

Grace Tame Foundation In December 2021, Tame founded the Grace Tame Foundation which aims for cultural and structural change to eradicate sexual abuse of children.

In April 2026, the foundation closed down due to a lack of long term funding.

Writing In September 2022 her memoir, The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner, was published by Macmillan Australia. It was shortlisted for the Nonfiction prize at the 2023 Indie Book Awards.

Media work The ABC broadcast a four-part podcast and YouTube series titled Autistic AF with Grace Tame in June 2026. In the series Tame speaks about her experience of autism, discusses the latest research and interviews women with autism.

Recognition and public profile

2021 Australian of the Year In October 2020, Tame was named Tasmanian Australian of the Year 2021.

A portrait of Tame by Kirsty Neilson was a finalist in the 2021 Archibald Prize. Neilson was inspired by Tame's passion, strength, and bravery in playing an instrumental role in changing Tasmania's gag law.

Personal life In 2017, Tame married American actor Spencer Breslin. and Twitter. She has referred to Heerey as her "biggest supporter" and "true soulmate". She is also a yoga teacher and long-distance runner, having won the 2020 Ross Marathon in a course record time.