Dr. Pettitt asks about the progress of the Equal Opportunity Act reform, particularly regarding intersex variations. The Attorney General confirms drafting is underway but provides no specific details or timeline.

AnsweredQoN 1435Legislative Council
Asked
14 November 2023
Portfolio
parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney General

QuestionView source ↗

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT — REFORM
1435. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the parliamentary secretary representing
the Attorney General:
I refer to the Attorney General's
announcement, dated 16 August 2022, to overhaul the Equal Opportunity Act.
(1) Can the
Attorney General confirm that the legislation to amend the Equal Opportunity
Act has already been substantially drafted?
(2) If not, why not?
(3) Will the
legislation include reforms to ensure effective oversight of clinical practices
that modify sex characteristics of people with intersex variations, and end
harmful and irreversible practices that do so without informed consent?
(4) If not, what
actions have been taken by the Attorney General to protect the rights of people
with variations in sex characteristics in medical settings in line with health
policy 109 in the 2022 WA Labor Platform?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Attorney General and I answer on behalf of the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General.
(1)–(4) The
Cook government is committed to reforming Western Australia's Equal
Opportunity Act. The drafting of new legislation is underway and will be
introduced when possible. This is a large and complex drafting exercise that
cannot be rushed.
The new reforms will replace legislation
that is almost four decades old and will take into account the recent review by
the Law Reform Commission, which made 163 recommendations. The government has
an extensive legislative reform program that it is committed to delivering.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more