The Australian Christian Lobby’s state branch decried the proposal, saying taxpayers should not fund surgeries that advocates say are “life-changing” and sometimes “life-saving”.
“The government should stop meddling in the lives of trans and gender diverse people, and allow us the same opportunities in life as everyone else.”
“Transgender people, regardless of how they identify or appear, should enjoy the gender recognition all persons expect and deserve.”
An advocate has called the current system “a few bits and pieces here and there that aren’t talking to each other”.
“I understand and regret the hurt I have caused. The trans community are heroes – you are my teachers”
Changing the sex on a birth certificate still requires divorce in most states.
The government has reportedly paid for 27 gender-related surgeries in the last five years.
Roughly 1.7 per cent of the population is intersex.
The report uses European case studies to show that outdated gender stereotypes are resulting in invasive and irreversible surgeries on children who are intersex.
The planned compensation has been celebrated, but Swedish activists say they will push for more.
