Just.Equal Australia has welcomed the commitment from Greens’ leader Adam Bandt to expand Medicare coverage of surgery costs for trans, gender diverse and non-binary (trans) people and has called on other parties to match it.
Just.Equal Australia spokesperson, Sally Goldner AM, said
"Achieving Medicare coverage for gender affirmation is a long overdue reform and Mr Bandt's commitment is a much-needed antidote to the anti-trans election campaigning we have seen over the last few days."
“Due to discrimination and resulting unemployment, trans people often find hormone costs a struggle and these also need to be covered. Like every Australian, every trans person deserves equitable and affordable health care and achieving this would enable trans people to move forward in their lives.”
“Achieving trans Medicare coverage needs to be a priority for the incoming government, whomever forms it after May 21, and we want it implemented within 6 months."
After the “faux” debate of recent days regarding trans inclusion in sport, Ms Goldner said the announcement was welcome, but more needed to be achieved at a national level.
Other long overdue reforms to be achieved at federal level include:
- a national, funded trans mental health strategy and action plan;
- a national, funded education campaign about trans lives to encourage inclusion and end misinformation;
- the creation of a uniform approach, both in principle and detail, for laws and regulations regarding recording of gender;
- ensuring access to transition services for children without the need for Family Court intervention consistently applied across states and territories
- inclusion of protections for trans people in the Fair Work Act along the lines of protections already in the Sex Discrimination Act
“We look forward to working with the incoming government to achieve our aims.”
For a copy of this statement on the web, click
hereFor more information contact Sally Goldner AM on 0407 946 242
