Page 848 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 9 April 2014

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MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.

MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, what is the direct local effect on traffic from the installation of speed cameras?

MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Gentleman for his supplementary. The comments of the Auditor-General make clear that there is an area-specific effect in relation to speed cameras. They vary according to the different types of speed cameras we are discussing. The Auditor-General also concluded that the system-wide effect of speed cameras was not proven. That is a finding the government is taking very seriously and is looking very closely at as it prepares its response to her report.

High Court—Norrie case

DR BOURKE: My question is to the Attorney-General. Attorney, I note the High Court handed down its decision last week in the Norrie case concluding that the New South Wales Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act recognises that a person may be other than male or female. Can you please tell the Assembly about recent reforms in the ACT in this area?

MR CORBELL: I thank Dr Bourke for his question. The Norrie case, the decision by the High Court in relation to Norrie, concludes that there is scope under New South Wales law, as it currently exists, to register a person’s birth other than as male or female. This decision, of course, is consistent with the decision taken by this Assembly to make amendments to the territory’s birth, deaths and marriages law to provide for recognition of gender and sex other than male or female.

Of course, the ACT government commenced on this process with the referral to the Law Reform Advisory Council in its inquiry into the steps necessary to provide for legal recognition of sex and gender diverse people in the ACT. We looked at this issue closely as a result of the LRAC report Beyond the Binary and we have, of course, now legislated to provide for those mechanisms. In particular, these amendments, as members would know, remove the requirement for gender reassignment surgery and declare that an interstate recognition certificate from another state or territory is evidence that the person mentioned in them is of the sex stated in that certificate. These are very important reforms. They extend equality and legal recognition on an equal basis.

Mr Hanson: Madam Speaker—

MADAM SPEAKER: Have you got a point of order, Mr Hanson?

Mr Hanson: I am probably seeking your guidance on this. The question that has been asked relates directly to an explanation about a piece of legislation that has been debated and dealt with in this place. The minister is simply giving a running commentary on legislation already debated.

MADAM SPEAKER: Can you stop the clock, please.


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