Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Bill 2022

Opposed the bill primarily over provisions allowing children under 16 to change their gender without parental consent, arguing the approach is potentially dangerous given the unsettled medical evidence on gender dysphoria in children.

“This bill imposes the left's philosophical quest to change the very fabric of our social norms, which have served us well for centuries.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

As Attorney-General, moved the second reading and passionately championed the bill as landmark reform to strengthen legal recognition of trans and gender-diverse Queenslanders, addressing concerns about consultation, the distinction between sex and gender, children's provisions, and safety.

“Trans rights matter, and I am extremely proud to commend this bill to the House.”— 2023-06-13View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill as necessary to strengthen legal recognition of trans and gender-diverse people, defending the provisions on children and dismissing concerns about women's safety as unsupported by evidence.

“Human rights are not finite. They are only limited by bigotry and hatred disguised as social paternalism.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

As shadow Attorney-General, outlined the LNP's reservations about the bill including inadequate consultation time, the conflation of sex and gender contrary to widely accepted distinctions, concerns about children under 16 being able to alter their sex descriptor, and potential unintended legal consequences. Stated the LNP cannot support the bill in its current form.

“While the LNP desires a Queensland where people can feel safe and free from discrimination, regrettably we cannot support this bill in its current form.”— 2023-06-13View Hansard

Expressed wholehearted support for trans Queenslanders but opposed the bill due to unaddressed concerns about children, inadequate consultation and compressed inquiry time frames, and the failure to consider simpler alternatives such as removing sex from birth certificates entirely.

“Ultimately, I support you wholeheartedly; however, I cannot support a bill that neglects to address very real concerns—especially in relation to our children—with regard to decisions that will have impacts far beyond a political term.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Spoke in support of the bill as a member of the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee, highlighting the objectives to strengthen legal recognition of trans and gender-diverse people and better recognise contemporary family structures, and sharing the story of author Craig Silvey's encounter with a distressed transgender teen.

“He was heartbroken by the disproportionate rates of violence and devastated by the fact that almost half of young transpeople will attempt to take their lives.”— 2023-06-13View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill, arguing there is no credible evidence of safety issues and that conservative claims about risks to women are misplaced, while the reforms will positively impact the lives of Queensland's most vulnerable people.

“We do not stand to lose through these reforms; we only stand to gain through them. Every single one of us has value, and no single one of us has more value than the other.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Acknowledged the importance of greater recognition of trans and gender-diverse people but raised concerns about insufficient consultation with women's groups, the conflation of sex and gender, the provisions for children under 16, and questioned whether the bill would achieve its stated aims of reducing stigma and preventing suicide.

“A transwoman is a transwoman; she is not a woman. A female, by definition, is an adult female human being. I do not apologise for saying that. That is my personal view.”— 2023-06-13View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing the government was not listening to women with genuine lived experiences of domestic violence who have concerns about biological males accessing women's safe spaces, and criticised the labelling of opponents as extremists.

“Having compassion and understanding for transgender people and gender dysphoric children is important, but achieving that should not come at the expense of women's rights—and that is where this bill fails.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill, drawing on personal experience of the fear of being 'found out' to empathise with trans people. Systematically rejected criticisms about safety concerns, rushed consultation, impacts on women's services, and children's welfare, citing evidence and the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

“I do not accept the opinion that male sexual predators will start to live their life as a woman, will dress and identify as a woman for 12 months, will make an application, including a statutory declaration to BDM that they identify as a woman and include a supporting statement made by an adult who has known them for at least a year, so that they can access a women's bathroom to perpetrate crimes against other women.”— 2023-06-13View Hansard

Raised legal concerns that the bill removes the objective nature of the births registry, introduces uncertainty into many aspects of the legal system, and that the legislative audit should have been carried out before the bill's passage. Also raised concerns about impacts on women's sport and the low bar for changing one's legal sex.

“This bill removes that objectivity and introduces a subjective element to that public record for the first time, as I understand it.”— 2023-06-13View Hansard

Spoke in support of the bill as part of the government's commitment to equality for trans and gender-diverse Queenslanders.

“I rise to support the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Bill 2022.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Drew on her experience as a school administrator to support the bill, sharing stories of transgender students whose birth certificates did not align with their lived gender. Argued that gender exists on a continuum and that removing the surgery requirement is the least that can be done for transgender Queenslanders.

“I strongly believe that gender exists on a continuum: at one end is female and at one end is male and we all—every single member of this House—lie somewhere on that continuum.”— 2023-06-13View Hansard

Affirmed that the LNP stands for a Queensland free from discrimination but opposed the bill, arguing it will do harm to children and that the claims it will save lives are overstated.

“From the outset, I and my LNP colleagues stand for a Queensland free from discrimination.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Spoke in support of the bill, acknowledging the work of the former Attorney-General in developing the reforms.

“I begin by acknowledging the work of the former attorney-general in bringing this important legislation to the House.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill, stating he does not agree with the legislation and will not be supporting it.

“I start by stating that I do not agree with and nor will I be supporting this bill.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Proudly supported the bill as important legislation for trans and gender-diverse Queenslanders.

“I proudly stand to support the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Bill 2022.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill as Deputy Leader of the Opposition, criticising the government for ignoring women's rights groups and rushing the legislation through inadequate consultation over the Christmas period.

“The Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Bill is a bill that the LNP will be opposing.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as important legislation for the trans and gender-diverse community in Queensland.

“I rise to contribute to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Bill 2022 in support of this important legislation.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill, questioning the need for the legislation and expressing concerns about its implications.

“I rise to give my contribution to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Bill 2022.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, sharing the story of a young trans constituent who described showing her birth certificate as an 'unintentional outing' every time she needs to use it.

“Every time I show my birth certificate it feels like an unintentional outing.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill as ultimately flawed, arguing it is a clumsy instrument that does not provide the right framework for protecting Queensland's diverse population, particularly regarding provisions for children aged 12 to 15 and the conflation of sex and gender.

“The LNP opposes the bill. We also oppose any vilification or discrimination against the trans community. It is completely unacceptable.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as creating monumental change for trans and gender-diverse Queenslanders, stating it will save lives by ensuring a person's legal identity can match their lived identity.

“Simply put, as we have heard before this reform will save lives.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill, raising detailed concerns about the affirmation model at the Queensland Children's Gender Service, citing statistics on rising referrals and international evidence questioning puberty blockers, and asking questions on behalf of senior medical professionals at the Queensland Children's Hospital.

“Given the growing international understanding that the research evidence supporting the use of puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria is very poor, what is the government doing to protect Queensland children?”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as Minister for Health, stating it will help save lives by providing trans and gender-diverse people an avenue for legal affirmation without needing surgery, and rejecting claims that the reforms would impact women's safety.

“It is not an exaggeration to say that this bill will help save lives. We know that gender affirmation is one of the most impactful ways to improve mental health outcomes for trans and gender-diverse people.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill due to concerns about unintended consequences, rushed consultation over the Christmas holidays, the unsettled international approach to children with gender dysphoria, and provisions allowing children aged 12 to 15 to apply without parental permission.

“We are here debating a bill that could have unintended consequences, and that is what the submitters to the committee report have submitted.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Spoke as a proud parent of a non-binary adult child, supporting the bill because it gives LGBTIQ+ Queenslanders the identity recognition they need, noting that no concerns raised have materialised in other jurisdictions.

“As a very proud parent of a non-binary adult child, I say that identity is very important. Identity means everything to many members of the LGBTIQ+ community.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill, citing concerns about the conflation of sex and gender, provisions for children, and potential unintended consequences for women's safe spaces including prisons, while acknowledging that vilification of trans people is unacceptable.

“Whilst we understand the importance of addressing the concerns and needs of transgender individuals, we believe this bill is not the right approach.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Supported the bill, sharing the story of her friend Jo, a transwoman, who described the trauma of having to justify her identity to obtain basic documents like a driver's licence, arguing every person deserves equal access to Queensland's systems.

“I want the same rights as everybody else; to engage in Queensland in the very systems that are designed to protect and enable us all.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill, citing constituent correspondence and concerns about the deliberate conflation of sex and gender, the potential for biological males to access women's single-sex spaces, and the government's motives in pursuing the legislation.

“Everyone deserves to be respected, but this debate is not about that. This is not an issue about making moral judgements regarding trans people; this is about a clear and concise, truthful and sensible approach to registration.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill as a step towards ensuring every person can be legally recognised as who they are, sharing stories from trans constituents about the barriers they face without accurate documentation, and supporting the Greens amendments to waive fees.

“We will look back on the changes in this bill and feel horror that there was ever a time when people could not make sure their documents and ID reflected their true selves.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill but noted some aspects have merit, particularly asking the minister to clarify whether the name-change provisions would help a sole-custody mother in his electorate change her children's surname without seeking consent from their convicted abuser father.

“One would think that having the biological father convicted of sexually assaulting his own children would be a justifiable reason to permit this change of name.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing it strips away parental rights and women's rights, criticising the inadequate consultation over Christmas, and citing concerns about children with gender dysphoria being encouraged to transition by peers and professionals.

“I oppose this bill because of the grave concerns we hold for rights that are being stripped away and for the woke agenda that is being tied to what otherwise could be satisfactory legislation.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill, defending constituents who contacted him against being labelled as divisive far-right, and noting the debate was about to be guillotined before he could finish his contribution.

“I want to mention that Louise from Mooloolah Valley, Maree from Glass House Mountains and Roslyn from Ocean View in my electorate who contacted me would be quite offended at that.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard

In reply, defended the bill's five-year development process against claims it was rushed, rebutted opposition arguments about harm to children and women's safety, and highlighted the LNP's failure to bring amendments if they genuinely wanted to find middle ground.

“I have no shame in relation to this bill; I just have pride in my heart. I stand with those who are up in the gallery, those across Queensland, those whom we have lost who have lost the fight.”— 2023-06-14View Hansard