Tony has been a LGBTIQ+ activist for over 25 years and is especially known for her intersex human rights work. Tony is an intersex woman (as well as being queer with trans and non-binary lived experience) and was subjected to numerous non-consensual and medically unnecessary surgical and hormonal interventions and intimate examinations as a child and young person.
In addition to longstanding leadership roles with Intersex Peer Support Australia and Intersex Human Rights Australia, Tony was the Chair of the ILGA World Intersex Committee and has facilitated and participated in several international human rights fora. She has also spoken at the UN Human Rights Council about intersex women in sport and the adverse impacts of gender stereotypes. Tony is the first out intersex person elected to public office in the world, a former Mayor and currently serving her fourth term as city Councillor.