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The world’s first transgender MP says she wants a decision made “one way or another.”

Former Labour MP Georgina Beyer has hit out at the government saying she is unsure as to why there is a delay on proposed changes to the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill.

“I don’t know why the Government is dithering. Just deal with it one way or another. It certainly has to be addressed because it’s causing too much angst for the transgender community today,” Beyer told Newshub.

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In the term of the last parliament, there was a draft bill being worked on to amend the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Act to make it easier for New Zealanders to understand and improve access to digital information about identities.

The government put a halt on the plans however after a parliamentary committee recommended changes be made to the process for legally changing sex on birth certificates, which drew opposition from some feminists such as the Speak Up For Woman group.

The committee made the recommended changes to allow New Zealanders to change their sex on their birth certificates the same way passports and driver licences are able to be changed.

Then Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin deferred the bill saying more work was needed to work through the proposed changes.

Newshub revealed that the new Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti was advised by officials to review the proposed changes and make a final decision on the revised bill by December 18.

That has yet to occur.

The world’s first transgender MP Georgina Meyer says the delay is not acceptable. “I don’t know why the Government is dithering. Just deal with it one way or another. It certainly has to be addressed because it’s causing too much angst for the transgender community today,” Beyer told Newshub.

“If she withdraws it, and that’s the end of it, then all hell will break loose as far as the transgender community and the other advocates,” says Beyer.

Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti says she is still finding her feet as a new minister and needs more time to work through the bill, although there will be progress made shortly.

“I think for me as a new minister, it’s been for me to actually work through the Bill and where it is, and work with my officials,” she said. “I’m trying to progress that as quickly as I can.”

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