1324. Hon Alison Xamon to the Leader of the House representing the Attorney General:
I refer to concerns raised by my constituents about potential conflicts of interests in the operations of the Gender Reassignment Board (GRB), and I ask:
(a) do members of the GRB refer applicants for a Gender Recognition Certificate to their own clinical practices for assessment;
(b) if yes to (a), are applicants advised that their applications are more likely to be successful if they attend one of GRB members practices;
(c) are policies and procedures in place to mitigate potential and actual conflicts of interest on the GRB; and
(d) if yes to (c), will the Minister please table the relevant documents?
Hon Sue Ellery replied:
(a) No. The Gender Reassignment Board (the Board) and individual members do not refer applicants to their own clinical practices. The Board does not refer any applicant to anyone for assessment. The Board receives information supplied by applicants. The information is by report, by letter or in person, from a number of sources including clinicians. The information is usually directed to the criteria under the Gender Reassignment Act 2000. Where a deficiency in the information is identified so as to make it likely that an application may not be granted, the Registrar, at the direction of the President, will write to the applicant asking that they supply the necessary further information from the persons, including clinicians, who have written in support.
(b) Not required.
(c) There is a policy in place that any Board member, including a clinician, who has been involved in an applicant’s case, does not take part in the decision making on that application. The procedure is to apply that policy in such a case. The policy is an application of the rules of procedural fairness. This policy is not written.
(d) Not applicable.