MLCs ponder gender move
LABOR’S Upper House MPs have indicated they will support amendments to the transgender reforms their party proposed and passed in the House of Assembly last year.
The Legislative Council will next month debate amendments that would, in part, allow parents to choose whether their child’s gender appeared on their birth certificate.
Labor and the Greens passed the reforms in the House of Assembly with the support of Speaker Sue Hickey in November.
Independent MLCs have circulated more than 40 pages of amendments to the proposed laws following months of lobbying and consultation.
Murchison independent Ruth Forrest has put forward the bulk of proposed changes, which appear to retain the intent of the original legislation.
Elwick Labor MLC Josh Willie said his party would “keep an open mind” on the independents’ amendments.
“We certainly think the independents’ amendments have merit,” Mr Willie said.
“We want to make sure that debate is respectful, that we end up with a Bill that is the best it possibly can be, that protects the rights of a vulnerable minority and doesn’t have any impact to the large majority of Tasmanians.”
Rumney Labor MLC Sarah Lovell said the party had been consulting closely with Ms Forrest. Labor would not support amendments that weakened the intent of the Bill, she said, but would listen to arguments that would tighten the proposed reforms.
“We are committed to getting this Bill through the chamber and we have made it very clear we want to get it through in the next sitting week,” Ms Lovell said.
The Upper House is composed largely of independents. Labor has three MLCs and the Liberals two.
Ms Forrest and Rosevears independent MLC Kerry Finch have indicated they support the broad intent of the Bill. Windermere independent MLC Ivan Dean this week tried to have the Bill sent to a committee, meaning there would be public hearings, but was voted down.
Transgender advocates this week welcomed the upcoming debate on the legislation.
Transforming Tasmania spokesperson Roen Meijers said: “We welcome the Upper House’s recognition that this reform is urgent with the cost of delay measured in lives.
However, Tasmanian Coalition for Kids spokesman Ben Smith said it was “extraordinary” the concerns of the Solicitor-General and the Tasmanian Bar Association had not been heard.