Thank you, Senators Louise Pratt and Sue Boyce

Today is the last day of office for two Senators who have played a key role in the pursuit of human rights and better health outcomes for intersex people in Australia, and we thank them both for their commitment and work.

Senator Sue Boyce

Senator Sue Boyce, a Liberal National Party Senator for Queensland played a key role in the Senate Inquiry into the Involuntary or coerced sterilisation of intersex people in Australia, published in October 2013. We acknowledge Sue Boyce's clarity and commitment on a broad spectrum of disability, LGBT and women's issues. We admire her understanding, commitment and vision, and we wish her all the very best for her retirement.

Senator Louise Pratt

Senator Louise Pratt has been a tireless advocate in Parliament for LGBTI issues, with a clear understanding of the needs of intersex people in Australia. We acknowledge her work on Indigenous and women's issues. Louise Pratt, a Labor Senator for Western Australia, supported a clinical submission by OII Australia on intersex and gender issues in 2012, and she deepened the understanding of intersex amongst many Senators on all sides during the course of inquiries into marriage equality and anti-discrimination legislation. We admire her tenacity, commitment, clarity and vision. Senator Louise Pratt leaves under circumstances not of her own choosing. We regret her departure from the Senate, and wish her all the very best in her future life and career.