Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, moved amendments to the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 to replace the words ‘intersex status’ with ‘sex characteristics’.
“These amendments, quite simply, replace the words, ‘intersex status’, with, ‘sex characteristics’,” Mr Wilkie said.
“They have been drafted in consultation with the peak organisation representing intersex people, Intersex Human Rights Australia, and LGBTIQ+ advocates Rodney Croome AM and Alastair Lawrie. The terminology is also endorsed by the intersex community through the Darlington Statement, and the Yogyakarta Principles plus 10.
“This is a very important amendment because not everyone who has variations of their sex characteristics may identify as intersex. But they still deserve protection from discrimination, not least because the experiences of people with variations of sex characteristics can be harrowing.
“The substance of this straightforward amendment is inherently important, and also very meaningful to many people. It’s been advocated for many years, certainly as far back as the creation of the Sex Discrimination Act in 2013.
“Regrettably the amendment was not supported by the Government and Opposition. Although the Government did commit to applying the change to terminology to all Federal anti-discrimination legislation in due course.”