Victoria's lower house of Parliament unanimously passes health safeguards bill

Today was an important step in Victoria’s journey toward justice and bodily autonomy for people born with variations in sex characteristics. The Victorian Legislative Assembly debated the Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025- a long‑awaited reform designed to protect intersex children from unnecessary and harmful medical interventions.

The debate

Nationals MP Emma Kealy opened the discussion, acknowledging the harm caused by non‑consensual medical and surgical interventions on intersex people and moving two amendments - one of which removed the entirety of the Bill's contents, and neither of which was adopted.

Minister for Equality Vicki Ward delivered one of the most moving moments of the morning, acknowledging the tireless advocacy of Tony Briffa, InterAction for Health and Human Rights, Equality Australia, and Victorian LGBTIQA+ Commissioner Joe Ball. Most significantly, she issued a heartfelt apology to Tony and to all intersex people who have experienced harm under past medical practices.

There was strong support across the chamber, despite the amendments moved by the Opposition, and this was reflected in the final vote, on voices, which saw unanimous support.

We would like to thank all the speakers, including Kat Theophanous, John Pesutto, Tim Read, Gary Maas, Annabel Cleeland, Will Fowles, Paul Mercurio, Cindy McLeish, Daniela De Martino, Chris Crewther, Mathew Hilakari, David Southwick, Jordan Crugnale, Steve McGhie and Sarah Connolly.

We would like to give a special thank you to Annabel Cleeland and David Southwick. Annabel Cleeland talked about her own family circumstances.

David Southwick spoke warmly of his long friendship with Tony Briffa and affirmed the importance of these long‑overdue reforms.

After the lunch break, discussion resumed with Jordan Crugnale, Steve McGhie and Sarah Connolly all speaking about the bill.

In the vote at 5pm, the bill passed unanimously on voices, and without changes. The bill now heads to the Legislative Council.

Voices from community and advocates

The bill’s passage through the Lower House was met with relief, gratitude, and resolve from intersex advocates and community members.

Tony Briffa, Co-Chair of InterAction, and patron of Equality Australia, remarked on the huge significance of the vote:

"The passage of this bill through the lower house is a defining moment in my life, and an extraordinary moment for my community. What happened to me, and to many others, was wrong. I now call on every member of parliament in the upper house to support this legislation, which simply protects a child’s right to make deeply personal and intimate decisions for themselves, when they are mature enough to do so."

InterAction's Executive Director Dr Morgan Carpenter offered a powerful reflection on the years of work behind the bill:

“This bill is the product of 5 years of detailed discussions between the Victorian government and all stakeholders, following decades of advocacy. It's based on the simple proposition that we all deserve the right to make our own decisions about our own bodies. And the bill passed the lower house unanimously. Thanks to Tony Briffa, and everyone in InterAction for Health and Human Rights and Equality Australia, for all the work to get here. And on to the upper house later this month!

I’d like to warmly thank the Members of the Legislative Assembly for their support for the Bill, for a heartfelt, respectful and kind debate, and the unanimous vote of support today. I hope that the Legislative Council debate will be as thoughtful, and the bill will pass without amendment.”

Heather Corkhill, Legal Director at Equality Australia, captured the significance of the moment and the core principles of the bill:

“The sweeping support from across the parliament underscores how vital these reforms are. Intersex people deserve the right to decide what happens to their own bodies, rather than being subjected to interventions that are not medically necessary and can cause permanent physical and psychological harm.”

InterAction for Health and Human Rights Co-Chair Dr Alice de Jonge was watching from the gallery and reflected on the emotional weight of the day:

“Finally it feels as though people with lived experience of innate variations of sex characteristics are being heard. No longer are doctors treated as gods with carte Blanche to do with our bodies as they see fit.”

InterAction Board Director and host of the popular “The “I” in Us” Radio show Paul Byrne‑Moroney, who was present in the gallery, shared a deeply personal reflection on witnessing the debate:

“This morning I had the great good fortune to be in Legislative Assembly of Victoria's Parliament to hear the parliamentary debate relating to the current intersex protections Bill. Support was universally strong from across government, albeit with some proposed amendments from the Liberals. It was clear some parliamentarians still misunderstand who we are, but on the whole understand enough, and as a result understand why the Bill must pass. Today, once again, I sat side-by-side my community to witness another important stage of the journey of the Bill, which will inevitably pass in the near future. I am an intersex person who was not subject to interventions as a child, but I stand in solidarity with those that have been, and are still impacted. These events should never have happened, should not still be happening, but are, and in the future, must never happen again.”

Find out more about the bill

Find out more about the bill:

The Victorian government web page on the bill, including text of the bill, amendments and other documents including a second reading speech by the Minister for Health

Read the transcript of the debate (Hansard uncorrected proof at time of update)

Victorian Department of Health resources: a short report on the consultation process and a brief note on the bill itself.

A briefing report by InterAction for Health and Human Rights and Equality Australia:

News reports

Arcuri, D. (2026, February 5). Intersex medical intervention reform for children passes Vic lower house. QNews. https://qnews.com.au/intersex-reform-for-childrens-medical-interventions-passes-vic-lower-house/
Sargeant, C. (2026, February 6). Advocates Celebrate As Legislation To Protect Intersex Children Passes VIC Lower House. Star Observer. https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/advocates-celebrate-as-legislation-to-protect-intersex-children-passes-vic-lower-house/240769