The Western n Government has insisted there will be no changes to birth certificates after it was reported that parents could soon be given the choice to not assign their newborn a gender on the certificate.
John Quigley, the state’s Attorney-General, is reportedly considering if Western should introduce a model similar to Tasmania.
Sources high up in the Cook Government revealed to the Sunday Times that neither the government nor Mr Quigley are ruling out making the change.
A WA Government spokesperson shot down the claims in a statement to Daily Mail saying there would be no changes made to the certificates.
‘There will be no change to the way in which a child’s sex at birth is recorded or displayed on a birth certificate under any reform dealing with gender recognition.’
Legislation reforms under ‘development’ could allow West n parents to not give their newborn a gender on its birth certificate (stock image)
Tasmanian parents have been able to not assign their child a binary gender since 2019 when the ‘historic’ legislation was passed.
The model was hailed as a landmark decision by trans activists, but was criticised by some who claimed it was ‘rushed’ through by Labor and the Greens.
Mr Quigley couldn’t give any details on the potential changes as the ‘reforms are under development’.
A WA Government spokesman said their position on the matter has been ‘clear’ after denying a move to ‘remove and expressly prohibit the recording of sex or gender on birth certificates’ in 2018.
‘Currently, the birth sex of a child is recorded by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in accordance with the information provided by the child’s parent(s),’ he said.
‘If a child’s sex characteristics are not provided by a parent, the Registrar will seek confirmation from the relevant hospital. A birth certificate issued by the Registrar includes the registered sex.’
Mr Quigley had previously spearheaded an overhaul of the state’s Equal Opportunity Act in August 2022, which would make it easier for Western ns to legally change their gender.
A Western n wishing to have their gender changed currently has to face the Gender Reassignment Board after already having undergone a ‘reassignment procedure’ and met other criteria to receive a gender recognition certificate.
The proposed changes would abolish the Board and instead allow a person to have their gender changed with just a certificate from their medical practitioner or psychologist.
The reform could follow the ‘historic’ 2019 Tasmanian decision that similarly allowed to not give their child either binary gender (pictured, birth certificate)
‘Western has had laws since 2000 which provide a mechanism for persons to change the sex classification on birth certificates,’ Mr Quigley said.
‘However, this process requires the use of the Gender Reassignment Board.
‘The reforms will abolish the Board and replace it with a new, streamlined administrative process for sex and gender recognition.’
There has been no movement on the overhaul to the Board almost two years later.
Tasmanian parents have been able to not assign their child either binary gender since 2019 when the ‘historic’ legislation was passed
While eradicating the Gender Reassignment Board would allow for an easier transition of gender, the Tasmanian model takes it a step further in denouncing a gender from birth.
Higher-ups in the Cook Government said the government is wary of a massive overhaul leaving a bad taste in voter’s mouths before the state’s election in 2025.
The sources said the government is instead more likely to ‘do bits and pieces’ rather than an all-encompassing overhaul.