Tension over gender shift

Labor’s policy dishonest, say Greens

THE Greens have labelled Labor backtracking on its support for amendments that would remove gender from birth certificates as “an act of utter gutlessness” and “dishonest”.

Opposition attorney-general spokeswoman Ella Haddad this week said Labor would introduce amendments to existing legislation that would allow parents to choose whether gender was recorded on their child’s birth certificate.

The position was unknown to the Greens, who believed Labor would back their push to have gender markers wiped from the identity document.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said her party was likely moving in a similar policy direction but that she felt blindsided as the apparent change in the Opposition’s position had been shared through the media after the two parties had come to an agreement.

“The most frustrating and offensive thing is, first of all, that they didn’t have the courage either to call [me] or stand by their original conviction, and secondly they’re trying to make out it was all [the Greens],” Ms O’Connor said.

“That is an act of utter gutlessness and it’s dishonest.”

Ms Haddad told the Mercury on Tuesday that Labor’s position had not changed.

The decision to allow parents to choose whether gender was recorded on birth certificates had come from consultation, Ms Haddad said, and disputed she had agreed to support the Greens.

“We still need to come together to discuss that slight nu- ance difference … which is what’s our understanding of their amendment and what’s Labor’s position, because Labor’s position is it’s a choice issue,” she said.

Attorney-General Elise Archer said Labor’s policy shift proved the party had failed to consult the community.

Ms Archer added: “Now that Labor has backed down on one component of the proposed amendments, they should agree to have the full range of reforms referred to the Tasmania Law Reform Institute for proper consideration and consultation with the Tasmanian people.”

Each party’s amendments will be moved when the Lower House debates government legislation aimed at stopping transgender people from being subject to forced divorces.