Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader
The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute has confirmed nation-leading transgender reforms passed by Parliament last year have none of the ‘unintended consequences’ Attorney General, Elise Archer, warned of repeatedly in trying to prevent the reforms.
The legislation passed by a majority of Members in both Houses of Tasmania’s Parliament was both nation-leading and robust. It also made Tasmania a kinder, happier place for transgender and intersex people.
The report confirms most Tasmanians are unaffected by the reform but the Institute found, ‘for a small proportion of our society, these reforms will have a profound impact on the rights, health, wellbeing and sense of self of gender diverse people’, and that the law changes were clearly warranted.
The TLRI report makes it clear Ms Archer was running a scare campaign against the interests of transgender and intersex Tasmanians and the people who love them.
She should apologise, but we won’t hold our breath.
The Attorney General can make some amends for her conduct during the time the reforms were being discussed and debated, by accepting – unreservedly – the TLRI recommendation to protect the rights of intersex children by committing to draft legislation that ends non-consenting medical interventions on intersex children.
The evidence is overwhelming that unnecessary surgery on infants and children with variations in their sex characteristics can cause lifelong harm.
The TLRI has made a clear, compelling recommendation for reform. Tasmania led the way with its Births, Deaths and Marriages reforms. It should now move to ensure the rights of intersex children are protected under Tasmanian law.
