The Victorian Opposition will campaign against plans to allow trans and intersex Victorians to change the sex recorded on their birth certificate, arguing that these documents existed to record the sex of a person at birth.

“We acknowledge and support the rights of individuals to live their lives according to their identified gender,” said shadow attorney-general Edward O’Donohue. “However, birth certificates are intended to record biological sex rather than gender identity.”

The Andrews government wants to change the law so that gender diverse people can “self-nominate” their sex as male, female or other non-binary identities on their birth certificates.

The government has described the current situation as “cruel and unfair”, saying trans and gender diverse Victorians are currently required to “out” themselves when their birth certificates are requested.