On Tuesday 27 August 2019, the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment Bill introduced by the state government passed 26-14 in the Victorian upper house and will now go to the Governor for royal assent.

Under the changes to the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act, people will be able to choose the sex listed on their birth certificate. The new laws will make it easier for people to update their birth certificates without facing unnecessary and invasive medical interventions. The bill effectively removes the current requirement for transgender people to undergo sex reassignment surgery to alter their birth certificate.

The proposed changes also allow children to alter the gender listed on their birth certificate provided that they have parental support and a statement of support from either a doctor, registered psychologist or other “prescribed person” stating that the decision is in the child’s best interests.

Therefore, trans and gender-diverse people can have a birth certificate that reflects their true identity.