Queensland passes laws allowing gender change on birth certificates without surgery

Transgender people in Queensland will no longer require sexual reassignment surgery to change their sex on birth certificates, as new laws are passed amid a rowdy parliamentary session.

The legislation also grants children aged 12 to 16 the ability to seek court approval for a sex change, even without parental support. However, before any change can occur, these children must undergo an assessment by a qualified practitioner who maintains a professional relationship with them.

Advocacy group Equality Australia celebrated the changes, labelling them “momentous” in a statement posted to social media