NSW independent MP Alex Greenwich has defended his move to scale back legislation designed to provide stronger protections for LGBTQIA+ communities.
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00:00When trans teenager Bodie Buller was dying from a degenerative condition, his last wish
00:07was to have his gender recognised on his birth certificate.
00:11And he was absolutely petrified when he was dying that his death certificate would also
00:15list him as female.
00:17But New South Wales is the only state which won't let people change their gender on identity
00:21documents unless they've had reassignment surgery.
00:24Independent MP Alex Greenwich and his backers want to change that as part of a broad ranging
00:29bill that aims to better protect the LGBTQI community.
00:33This week is an opportunity to be on the right side of history, to finally remove the archaic,
00:39cruel and discriminatory laws that impact on members of our communities every day.
00:44But Mr Greenwich has dropped several key sticking points opposed by religious groups, including
00:49banning private schools from discriminating against gay or transgender teachers and students.
00:55Our members are also an important group who need human rights, so we are bitterly disappointed.
01:01The MP says he's being pragmatic because the government won't support changes to the Anti-Discrimination
01:06Act while it's under review.
01:08It breaks my heart that I've had to take out these reforms, which I have worked on my entire
01:14political career.
01:16But in the interest of achieving what we can today, I have scaled back my bill.
01:21The Premier has given the watered down bill his seal of approval.
01:25Alex Greenwich's amended equality bill I think should pass the parliament.
01:29But his Liberal counterpart is not yet convinced.
01:32The rush is very disappointing.
01:33I got a very heavily marked up bill on Saturday night.
01:36We're digesting that at the moment and we'll be considering that in the party room.
01:40Alex Greenwich hopes his bill passes the lower house of state parliament this week.
01:44But it's facing a rockier passage through the upper house where there are several outspoken
01:48conservative crossbenchers, including former One Nation MP Mark Latham, who's previously
01:53tried to introduce a bill banning discussion of gender diversity in classrooms.
01:58Heated debate ahead.