ACLW supported the amended LGBTIQ+ Equality Bill passed through the upper house of NSW Parliament to being law!
The Bill passed 15 votes to 12 in the upper house, making it the largest package of LGBTIQ+ law reform in the state’s history.
Among its many reforms, the Bill removes outdated barriers requiring trans people to undergo surgery to update their birth certificate. It also better recognises rainbow families and protects our community from unique forms of violence.
Background:
On 24 August 2023, known then as the ‘Equality Bills,’ these landmark reforms sought to ban conversion practices, allow trans and non-binary people to update their gender on state identification without the need for surgery, among a suite of other reforms. The omnibus Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023 (Equality Bill) proposed by Independent MP Alex Greenwich promised to update dozens of laws to improve the lives of countless NSW residents and is accompanied by a separate bill to ban conversion practices.
| In October 2023, the NSW Government announced it will introduce its own bill to ban LGBTQA+ conversion practices. Banning conversion practices will no longer proceed in parallel with Mr. Greenwich’s Equality Bill, fast-tracking the passage of these vital reforms. |
Pressure started mounting as NSW’s LGBTIQ+ community became frustrated with the lack of progress on the LGBTIQ+ Equality Bills. In April 2024, over 80 community organisations came out in support of the Equality Bill, including women’s groups, unions and health organisations. Thousands of LGBTIQ+ community members and allies sent messages in support of the reforms in response to the Committee’s survey.
On 6 June 2024, NSW Premier Chris Minns delivered a heartfelt apology on behalf of NSW Parliament to people convicted under archaic laws that criminalised homosexual acts:
“This House on behalf of the people of NSW, apologises unreservedly to those convicted under discrimanatory laws that criminalised homosexual acts.”
Alex Greenwich: “Forty years after homosexuality was decriminalised, Parliament apologised for originally legislating the harmful laws. Criminal records impacted on the employment, relationships and privacy of thousands of men while the laws justified hatred and violence. Decriminalisation was a milestone but state laws still discriminate against LGBTIQA+ people and during the apology I called on the government to work with me to pass my LGBTIQA+ Equality Bill this year.”
In October 2024, Alex Greenwich agreed to a raft of amendments to his bill including to remove protections for LGBTQ+ staff and students to ensure its passage through the NSW Parliament.
LGBTQ+ community groups came together to express their disappointment, but affirmed that the Bill still contains vital measures that will improve countless lives across NSW.
Significant reforms, such as discrimination protections for LGBTIQ+ staff and students in religious schools, will be considered next year as part of a review of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act which is now underway.
On 16 October 2024, the amended Equality Bill passed through the lower house of NSW Parliament 50 votes to 30, with Liberal MP Felicity Wilson crossing the floor to support the amended Bill.
The Bill passed through the upper house 15 to 12 as the largest package of LGBTIQ+ law reform to ever pass through NSW Parliament!
ACLW congratulates Independent MP Alex Greenwich and the NSW Parliament for the unprecedented and just LGBTIQ+ law reform in NSW history. These life-changing reforms allows the LGBTIQ+ community to live with dignity, recognition and respect.
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Equality Bill passes lower house of NSW parliament