This article was originally published by the OUTInPerth. You can find the original article here.
The Western Australian Government have announced today that they will be introducing a Bill to abolish the long-criticised Gender Reassignment Board.
The Births, Deaths, Marriages Registration Amendment (Sex or Gender Changes) Bill 2024 will repeal the Gender Reassignment Act 2000 and introduce a new administrative process for sex and gender recognition.
This includes the removal of the requirement for Western Australians to present to the Gender Reassignment Board to justify their need for legal gender affirmation and recognition. The Board has been criticised as an unnecessary barrier for LGBTQIA+ people in Western Australia, including the Board’s current head, former Pride WA President Curtis Ward.
WA Labor committed to abolishing the Board at their state conference in 2017. The impending changes were also recommended by the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia in 2018, to bring our state in line with other jurisdictions around the nation. Most recently, the government reiterated their commitment to getting rid of the Board in December of last year.
The reforms will also allow for non-binary and intersex or indeterminate descriptors for gender and sex respectively on legal documents in WA.
The Bill will still enforce restrictions for people under 18, including parental consent or permission from the Family Court of Western Australia in some circumstances. The changes will not affect existing procedures that relate to the registration of sex on a birth certificate at birth.
Cook: Bill is “first tranche” of legislative reform
Premier Roger Cook says his government remains committed to a broader reform agenda supporting diversity and inclusion in Western Australia.
“This first tranche of legislative reform strongly supports my Government’s ongoing commitment to equality for all Western Australians,” Premier Cook said.
This follows our recent commitment to developing WA’s first LGBTQIA+ inclusion strategy, which will promote inclusiveness and wellbeing and ensure LGBTQIA+ people experience full social and economic participation.
“Everyone deserves the respect and dignity of being recognised as themselves, to have their legal identity align with their lived identity.”
“These important reforms will mean that trans and gender-diverse members of our community will no longer be required to undergo gender affirming surgery to change their gender on their birth certificate, removing the outdated barriers that deny people identity documents that accurately reflect their gender,” the Premier continued.
“My Government has a significant legislative agenda, and is committed to finalising our second tranche of reforms in close consultation with the community.”
WA Attorney General John Quigley echoed Premier Cook’s commitment to reform, promising to continue engaging with stakeholders to bring forward new equal opportunity legislation.
“Western Australia is the only jurisdiction where a Gender Reassignment Board determines a person’s application to change sex,” the AG said.
“WA and New South Wales are the only Australian jurisdictions that require applicants to have undergone medical or surgical reassignment in order to change the sex on their birth certificate.
“This Bill abolishes the Gender Reassignment Board and introduces a new administrative application process for people seeking to change their sex or gender on their birth certificate.
“Instead, they will be able to apply directly to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages with a statement by a medical practitioner and psychologist, certifying that they have received appropriate clinical treatment in relation to the person’s sex or gender.”
In recent months, local LGBTQIA+ organisations including TransFolk of WA, Rainbow Futures WA and PFLAG+ Perth had been urging the McGowan and Cook Governments to expediate action, following the resignation of the Board President who preceded Curtis Ward.
Labor’s inaction on this issue since making its original promise in 2017, among other equal opportunity reforms, has resulted in protests led by Queer Liberation Boorloo and consistent criticism from national advocacy organisation Just.Equal, represented here in WA by former senator Brian Greig.
This is a breaking story. To see the latest, check out the original article linked at the start and end of the article.
Do you need some support?
If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:
QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.
DISCHARGED: [email protected] / discharged.asn.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.
Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au
Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au
