Young Labour sex-change surgery policy ‘nutty’

A possible Labour Party policy for free gender reassignment surgery has been dismissed as ‘‘nutty’’ by the Government.

The Labour Party could end up voting on the policy for free gender reassignment surgery after the idea was passed at two regional party conferences.

Labour’s general secretary Tim Barnett said the proposal came from Young Labour, who want to ensure there’s access to hormone replacement therapy and gender reassignment surgery and that it’s publicly funded.

But the Government has dis- missed the idea, with Health Minister Jonathan Coleman describing the idea as ‘‘nutty’’.

Gender reassignment is currently free for limited numbers and now the proposal will move to the next stage – of which there are at least three – before it hits any official status, Barnett said.

Labour leader Andrew Little hadn’t had the issue raised with him personally and said he hadn’t given it a great deal of thought.

‘‘I’m quite happy with my gender.’’

‘‘That’s a complex issue and not an issue I’d make a policy up on on the hoof,’’ he said.

Labour MPs polled on their way to Caucus on Tuesday weren’t overly keen on the idea and didn’t think Labour voters would see it as a priority.

Napier MP Stuart Nash was at a regional conference where it was raised.

He said he voted against it because he didn’t think it was an important issue for New Zealanders.