12 August 2019
Equality Australia welcomes the statement by Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, Kristen Hilton, in support of changes to Victoria’s birth certificate regime.
Anna Brown*, chief executive of Equality Australia, said “Commissioner Hilton has accurately identified Victoria as lagging behind other states in respecting the rights of transgender people.
“No person should be required to have costly and invasive surgery to simply change their identity documents.
“Identity documents are necessary for things like enrolment at school, applying for a licence, and employment. If a birth certificate does not reflect a person’s identity, then that person is immediately outed and placed at risk.
“These reforms are overdue. They were an election commitment and we praise Victorian Labor for getting on with this election promise”, concluded Ms. Brown.
View the full statement here: https://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/home/news-and-events/commission-news/item/1831-changes-to-birth-certificate-laws-will-improve-the-lives-of-trans-and-gender-diverse-victorians
*uses she/her pronouns
MEDIA CONTACT: Hayley Conway 0484 313 466