Tears as MLCs delay debate on transgender law reforms until March

Tearful Upper House MPs have apologised to transgender Tasmanians after debate on legislation was delayed until March next year.

Martine Delaney, centre, with fellow spokespeople for Transforming Tasmania Roen Meijers, left, and Dede River. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

TEARFUL Upper House MPs have apologised to transgender Tasmanians after debate on legislation that would have dramatically reformed laws in their favour was delayed until March next year.

Many MLCs said they supported the intent of the legislation passed last week in the Lower House, which, in its current form, would have given parents a choice as to whether gender was marked on their child’s birth certificate.

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But they were in general agreement the Labor and Green amendments were not legally robust.

The Government has offered them help from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to draft new amendments to the legislation and pledged to bring on the debate again next year.

Hobart independent MLC Rob Valentine cried as he implored Tasmanians to be kinder to the LGBTI community during the ongoing debate.

“It’s important that we don’t look at legislation just through an emotional experience like what’s happening now, but it’s important we make sure the legislation is right,” he said.

States and territories were given until December 9 to pass legislation that would stop forced divorces for transgender people.

But the State Government’s original Bill was heavily amended by Labor and the Greens with the support of Speaker Sue Hickey to propose changes to a suite of laws related to transgender and gender diverse Tasmanians.

Launceston independent MLC Rosemary Armitage said she felt emotional in not debating the Bill and noted one of her staff was transgender.

“I think it’s really sad the misinformation that’s out there, the nastiness … but I felt the amendments before it, and particularly when we had the briefings about the things that were wrong with the Bill, I really didn’t think I was able to proceed with the Bill as it was,” she said.

Legislative Council president Jim Wilkinson labelled it likely his toughest week in his 24 years in the Upper House.

Transgender advocacy group Transforming Tasmania, which drafted the proposed reforms with Labor and the Greens, accused the State Government of deliberately obstructing debate.

The legislation was listed as the last item on the last sitting day of Parliament for the year.

“We are disappointed but not daunted,” Transforming Tasmania spokeswoman Martine Delaney said.

“We will fight for this legislation right up until Parliament returns because it is about our lives and our fundamental human dignity.”