New Health Safeguards Bill Passed to Protect People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics-VIC Government
Umesh Dhakal
KNA- Canberra
A new legal framework aimed at protecting infants, children and adults born with variations in sex characteristics (VSC) has been passed by the Victorian Legislative Assembly.
The Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025 has been introduced to prevent non-urgent and irreversible medical procedures from being performed on infants and young children who are unable to provide consent. The legislation is intended to ensure that healthcare provided to people born with VSC is safe, respectful and evidence-based.
It has been explained to Parliament that being born with a variation in sex characteristics — sometimes referred to as intersex — occurs when a person’s physical sex characteristics do not fit typical definitions of male or female. These variations may involve chromosomes, hormones or reproductive anatomy and are considered a natural form of human diversity.
Concerns have been raised that, for decades, medical interventions such as surgeries and hormonal treatments have been carried out on infants and young children to make their bodies appear more typically male or female. It has been stated that many of these procedures were not medically necessary, were irreversible, and were undertaken before informed consent could be given.
The long-term impacts of such interventions have been described as severe, with reported outcomes including sterilisation, chronic pain, sexual dysfunction and psychological trauma.
Under the Bill, stronger consent requirements are to be implemented, families are to be provided with additional support, and clinicians are to be guided by clearer and contemporary standards of care. Independent oversight mechanisms are also to be strengthened to ensure medical necessity is appropriately assessed.
The legislation has received bipartisan support, with amendments proposed by the opposition to further strengthen safeguards within Victoria’s health system. It has been stated during debate that the Bill is intended to uphold dignity, bodily autonomy, fertility protection and the fundamental right to consent.
It has also been noted that variations in sex characteristics occur in approximately 1.7 per cent of the population, making them about as common as natural red hair.
Support for the Bill has been expressed across parties, with members emphasising the need to balance bodily integrity, children’s participation in decision-making, medical necessity and independent oversight.
The Bill is now set to be further debated in the Legislative Council.
Source: Government of VIC
