Intersex Human Rights Australia

OII Australia ally Rainbow Labor has welcomed changes in the Australian Labor Party policy platform that further support the LGBTI community and especially intersex people. As a result, Australia leads internationally in being intersex-inclusive. 

Rainbow Labor - click to go to the Rainbow Labor NSW website.

Summary of changes to the ALP platform:

• Commitment under Labor Values to health care and specific health care needs of GLBTI Australians (140A)
• Expanded discrimination provisions around freedom of expression to explicitly include sexual orientation, gender identity and relationship status (142A)
• Specific transgender and intersex health care mentions and provisions (143A) as well as inclusion in health provisions (154A)
• LGBTI as a Priority population with specific health needs including new provisions for community partnerships, support for LGBTI peak health bodies, training for healthcare workers around LGBTI issues, suicide prevention programs, LGBTI in aged care, rural communities and Medicare and PBS (145A)
• Specific LGBTI mentions in both men’s (148A) and women’s (147A) health care programs, including resourcing provisions,
• Specific and priority focus in mental health for LGBTI as a priority high risk mental illness group (581A)
• Strengthening of all Commonwealth funded programs to ensure adherence to anti-discrimination laws (516A)
• Substantial provisions in relation to LGBTI role in our society including the provision of a ministerial advisory committee, policy consultation and improvements, integration of programs, and review of all Commonwealth documentary requirements in line with transgender and intersex identity. (517A)
• Ensure that legislative and regulatory impact is made in consideration to LGBTI Australians (517A)
• Strengthen harassment provisions including broadening of the definition of harassment for LGBTI Australian’s (155A). And an Australian first mention of the issues surrounding “coming out” for LGBTI Australians
• Foreign Treaty commitment to actively encourage the repeal of anti-gay laws, especially criminal laws against homosexual sexual conduct, and most urgently against such laws where they impose the death penalty, and generally to encourage steps to implement the actions required by the Yogyakarta Principles.