The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:06): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing on the subject of Intersex Awareness Day.
Leave granted.
The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: I note that yesterday was Intersex Awareness Day. This has been the subject of the Human Rights Commission's extensive work on ensuring that medical interventions may take place with personal consent of a person only where there is a medical necessity. This has been a scourge, and there are currently inadequate provisions for those young people and children and their families where there have been medical interventions for intersex infants.
Is the Minister for Health and Wellbeing aware of the Human Rights Commission's report and work, and what does the South Australian Department for Health and Wellbeing intend to do to ensure that in the future intersex infants are treated with the respect they deserve in our healthcare system?
The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:08): I thank the honourable member for her question. In terms of the Human Rights Commission's report, I am aware of the report in broad terms, and notice there was recent media in terms of the trauma of a family with issues in relation to intersex. It is something on which I have sought further information, and I am happy to provide further information to the honourable member when I receive it. Certainly the government is alert to issues such as intersex and other diversity issues. We are doing work in terms of gender diversity services to ensure we provide appropriate care to all South Australians, particularly young people.