Premium Content:

Petition calling for gender affirming surgery to be covered by Medicare gets massive support

A petition on the Australian parliament website, calling for gender affirming surgery to be covered by Medicare, has received a massive amount of support.

- Advertisement -

The petition, which is open to signatures until 27 October, has received over 130,000 signatures since it was posted. It calls on Australia’s parliamentarians to take action.

“Transgender people and other people in need of gender-affirming surgery must pay a lot of money, up to $30,000, so they can finally have their outward appearance match how they truly feel on the inside. I know of someone personally who is struggling to bring together the money to get this surgery as it is not covered by Medicare, even though this specific person is eligible for a breast reduction for medical purposes anyway.” the petition reads.

“We therefore ask the House to make gender-affirming and gender reassignment services eligible for Medicare benefits, as these surgeries are essential for the mental health and well-being of select people in the LGBTQ+ community.”

The petition was launched by Alyssa Kennedy-Whiting.

While there are currently 68 petitions open on the Parliament website, calling for everything from providing subsidies electric vehicles to removing HECS debts, none have received the level of support of petition calling for the government to take more action on transgender health care.

Calls for the federal government to include gender affirming health care under Medicare have been made for many years. OUTinPerth reported on similar calls in 2012, however despite many politicians voicing support for change, none has occurred.

OIP Staff


You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

Latest

On This Gay Day | Nona Hendryx was born in 1944

The singer was part of LaBelle before launching her successful solo career.

Freo Dockers reveal 2025 Pride round jumper

AFLW star Kiara Bowers has highlighted the importance of inclusion in the game.

Alice Topp returns to West Australian Ballet for ‘Macbeth’ in 2026

The production will have its world premiere in New Zealand before heading to Perth.

Couch Potato | ‘Blue Lights’ returns for a gripping third season

The peelers from Belfast return for a tense new season.

Newsletter

Don't miss

On This Gay Day | Nona Hendryx was born in 1944

The singer was part of LaBelle before launching her successful solo career.

Freo Dockers reveal 2025 Pride round jumper

AFLW star Kiara Bowers has highlighted the importance of inclusion in the game.

Alice Topp returns to West Australian Ballet for ‘Macbeth’ in 2026

The production will have its world premiere in New Zealand before heading to Perth.

Couch Potato | ‘Blue Lights’ returns for a gripping third season

The peelers from Belfast return for a tense new season.

‘Urinetown, The Musical’ will be on stage this November

The show is being staged at The Liberty Theatre in the city.

On This Gay Day | Nona Hendryx was born in 1944

The singer was part of LaBelle before launching her successful solo career.

Freo Dockers reveal 2025 Pride round jumper

AFLW star Kiara Bowers has highlighted the importance of inclusion in the game.

Alice Topp returns to West Australian Ballet for ‘Macbeth’ in 2026

The production will have its world premiere in New Zealand before heading to Perth.