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Labour eases off proposed gender reassignment policy

Author
Frances Cook, Felix Marwick and Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 19 May 2015, 3:04PM
Photo: stock.xchng
Photo: stock.xchng

Labour eases off proposed gender reassignment policy

Author
Frances Cook, Felix Marwick and Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 19 May 2015, 3:04PM

UPDATED 3.43PM: Labour MPs are backing away from a grassroots effort to get more support for gender reassignment surgeries.

A proposal was brought forward by Young Labour and was passed at two regional party conferences.

The party's general secretary Tim Barnett believes the proposal would help ensure access to publicly-funded hormone replacement therapy and gender reassignment surgery.

 

However, the party's health spokesperson Annette King says that doesn't make it Labour policy.

She argues the surgery is already funded, but admits the 40-year waiting list was also brought up.

"That is the problem for any unique type of surgery, and so you know if it's not avail in New Zealand it makes it very difficult to be able to provide."

The Government funds about around two surgeries a year at present - a figure the Prime Minister is satisfied with.

"The government funds a small amount in that area. They're actually very expensive operations and there are very few that are actually undertaken by the government.

"I think the settings are in the right place at the moment and they don't need to change."

Health minister Jonathan Coleman agrees the current ration seems about right, before launching an attack on Labour.

"Look, I think they're totally out to lunch and it shows you why these people will be unelectable for a very, very long time.

"They think the most important issue in New Zealand is transgender surgery. They are way, way off the mark."

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