WA Government abolishes Gender Reassignment Board to streamline recognition process

The State Government has abolished a contentious process required for West Aussies to change their gender as part of a shake-up of sex and gender recognition laws.

The Gender Reassignment Board has been scrapped amid the streamlining efforts, which will bring WA in line with most other Australian jurisdictions.

It comes after transgender West Aussies sounded the alarm over a backlog of recognition certificates after the former Board president departed in September, as revealed by The West Australian earlier this month.

One of the 26 applicants who had been caught up in the indefinite delay was Bree Wilkinson, who was shocked to find out some 10 weeks after lodging her document that it had been put on hold — and only when she contacted the department for an update.

Without having her new gender legally recognised, Ms Wilkinson has put her overseas travel plans on ice, fearing assault or harassment if forced to use her old passport.

Announcing the changes on Wednesday, Attorney-General John Quigley said new interim president, Grantham Kitto, would be appointed to lead the Board until the new legislation was implemented.

Mr Kitto, a lawyer of 30 years, had been a member of the Board since February 2009 and will be focused on prioritising existing applications on the waitlist.

Once established, applications will be processed by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Transgender people will no longer be required to demonstrate that they have undertaken surgical or medical intervention.

Rather, they will be able to provide a certificate from their medical practitioner or psychologist confirming they have received clinical treatment in relation to their sex or gender identity.

Mr Quigley said LGBTIQA+ law reform and improving the process of sex and gender recognition was important and a priority of the McGowan Government.

“These reforms will bring Western Australia in line with the processes available for birth certificates throughout most of Australia — and are consistent with the process available for Australian passports,” The Labor minister said.

Equality Australia’s national LGBTIQ+ group spokeswoman Ymania Brown said the legal recognition meant the “right to exist and be seen” for gender diverse people.

“Having a birth certificate that does not align with your gender means that trans people may be forced to out themselves when applying for jobs, registering for school or university, accessing support services or opening a bank account,” the fa’afafine trans woman said.

“We look forward to working with the WA Government to ensure no trans and gender diverse people are left behind.”

TransFolk of WA Milo Bronleigh said the decision comes after years of community advocacy and activism.

“We’re pleased to finally see a commitment from the West Australian Government to these important reforms for trans and gender diverse people,” he said.