The government introduced reform to allow overseas doctors to verify sex affirmation surgery so people can update their sex on identity documents, covering people who get surgery in countries like Thailand and India. However the vast majority of transgender people don’t have surgery and our archaic laws force them to live with incorrect and inconsistent official documents, adding to stigma, discrimination, isolation and exclusion. Most other states and the Commonwealth have removed surgical requirements, with Tasmania and Victoria recently adopting world’s best practice self-determination models. During debate, I called on Parliament to stop forced surgical interventions and pass reforms that treat transgender people with dignity, privacy and respect. My speech: HERE.

Join Clayton Utz and Inner City Legal for a Transgender Awareness Week breakfast 14 November 7.15-9.30am at Level 14, 1 Bligh Street Sydney, with funds to support Inner City Legal Centre’s services: HERE. The event includes keynote speaker Eloise Brook from The Gender Centre who has been researching deaths of transgender people for her 'The Counting the Dead Podcast', in the lead-up to Transgender Day of Remembrance. Listen to the podcast at: HERE.