NSW still requires surgeries that are often unwanted, complex, and have mixed results (particularly for ftm patients, unless they opt for steralisation instead which might count. mtf steralisation is mandatory), and tremendously expensive (not covered by medicare, in fact barely offered in australia at all especially for ftm people).

Further if you are fortunate enough to be able to do this you are required to be inspected by two unrelated medical professionals. I went through that process and it was the most humiliating moment of my life.

This policy is out of line with policy adopted by the federal government over a decade ago now, and is similar to policies previously enacted by Sweden and The Netherlands. Policies which they are currently apologising for and paying re-compensation to transgender people harmed by them.

Having ID which identifies someone as transgender causes ongoing dysphoria which runs contrary to treatment recommended by health professionals while exposing someone to violence and discrimination.

Chris Minns’ words ring hollow when the state government continues to drag its feet on this front, despite support from the Greens and Alex Greenwich.

While I’m glad for any of my comrades getting a sense of closure, to me this leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and appears another empty political stunt of pretty words without commitment to action.