The Australian Greens welcome today’s Family Court decision that will allow trans young people to access the medication they need on the advice of their medical professionals, without having to go through an time consuming and expensive court process.

“This is a great result for all trans and gender diverse young people,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson.

The Australian Greens welcome today’s ‘yes’ result and look forward to passing cross-party legislation in parliament as soon as possible.

“I am delighted at today’s result. Australia has voted ‘yes’ to love, ‘yes’ to human rights, ‘yes’ to equality,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson.

“I know that right across the country there will be celebration and relief that Australians chose love and voted ‘yes’. I can’t wait to hear the wedding bells ringing for LGBTIQ couples as soon as possible.”

The Greens are pleased to be a part of this cross-party marriage bill along with Senator Dean Smith, who proposed a draft of this bill some months ago, members of the Liberal and Labor parties and crossbench senators from the Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party and the Nick Xenophon Team.

“We’re on the brink of an historic reform, so it is wonderful to have cross-party support,” said Senator Rice. “We don’t want to pre-empt tomorrow’s survey result, but we want to make marriage equality a reality at the earliest opportunity, so we’re getting ready now.”

The Australian Greens say that the update from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing that 57.5% of votes have been returned in the marriage equality postal survey is heartening, but they will not take anything for granted and will continue campaigning for a ‘yes’ win.

“It’s a good sign that so many ballots have been returned – it just goes to show that Australians care deeply about this issue, despite this process being forced on us when there was a much easier and less harmful way,” said Senator Janet Rice, Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson.

The Senate has supported a motion calling on the Government to encourage the public to reach out to LGBTIQ people and enquire about their wellbeing for R U OK? Day.

“We are being told by mental health experts that the LGBTIQ community will experience negative mental health impacts during the marriage equality survey, so it is more important than ever to ask R U OK?”, Australian Greens spokesperson on Mental Health Senator Rachel Siewert said today.