THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
Attorney-General
Minister for Emergency Management
Special Minister of State
Minister for the Public Service and Integrity
MEDIA RELEASE
NEW GUIDELINES ON THE RECOGNITION OF GENDER
New Commonwealth guidelines to make it simpler for people to establish or change their sex or gender in personal records held by Australian Government departments and agencies will come into operation from 1 July.
The Guidelines standardise the evidence required to change gender identity and support the introduction of protections for intersex, transgender and gender diverse people in anti-discrimination legislation.
"These Guidelines will bring about a practical improvement in the everyday lives of transgender, intersex and gender diverse people," Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC said.
"They represent a commitment to recognising the full diversity of people in Australia and ensuring all people are treated with respect by Australian Government departments and agencies.
"Transgender and intersex people in Australia face many issues trying to ensure the gender status on their personal records matches the gender they live and how they are recognised by the community."
The Australian Government Sex and Gender Recognition Guidelines will support a clear and consistent way for people who are intersex, transgender and gender diverse to establish or change their gender identity on personal records they hold with the Australian Government.
"We recognise individuals may identify, and be recognised within the community, as a gender other than the gender they were assigned at birth or during infancy, or as an indeterminate gender," Mr Dreyfus said.
"This should be recognised and reflected in their personal records held by departments and agencies."
Increased consistency in the way the Australian Government collects and records gender under the Guidelines will strengthen Australia's identity security system, the integrity of agency records and the accuracy of individual personal records, in line with the Australian Government's approach to identity security.
A copy of the guidelines is available at www.ag.gov.au/genderrecognition
THURSDAY, 13 JUNE 2013
