Dr WOODRUFF - Minister, I was speaking to you earlier in another portfolio - Community Development - about the LGBTI trans community and now in your capacity as Mental Health minister and the mental wellbeing of trans people. Can you please confirm that you would not support changes to our state laws, in particular to the state law Justice and Related Legislation (Marriage and General Amendments) Act? That any changes to that that would repeal the ability of a person to have an optional statement of gender on their birth certificates.
CHAIR - Dr Woodruff, that legislation does not fall within this particular Budget output. We covered this in the Community Development area.
Dr WOODRUFF - Thanks, I will ask the question about the mental health issues without referring to the legislation, if that is appropriate.
That bill which passed last year was strongly supported by the trans community and is part of a suite of measures removing the stigma and providing real choice in identity issues for people and how they live their lives. Have you spoken to any trans people since that law has been passed? Are you aware of the positive impacts it has had on people in that community?
Mr ROCKLIFF - I have spoken to trans people. I cannot recall when that was in relation to the legislation passing. I know I attended an event in Ulverstone last year, the Pride festival - I cannot remember the exact name of it - where I spoke to someone I had known for a very long time. I cannot recall a conversation specific to the legislation. It is not exactly a matter of my portfolio either in terms of the responsibility for that legislation. I take on board all your comments. We spoke about it briefly when it was raised in relation to my department of Communities responsibility for community development.