CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses Suicide.
Queensland has halted new gender-affirming hormone treatments for transgender youth under 18 in the public health system. Health Minister Tim Nicholls announced this significant change on Tuesday, sparking immediate debate across the state.
The government is launching a full review into stage one and stage two hormone therapies for children with gender dysphoria in Queensland. This means no new patients under 18 can start treatment through public health services while the investigation is ongoing.
The decision came after concerns were raised about the Cairns Sexual Health Service. According to Nicholls, 17 children received hormone therapy that potentially didn’t meet standard Australian treatment guidelines.
Nicholls didn’t mince words, saying, “We owe it to children to ensure that care is grounded on solid evidence and that we act in this contested area and this developing area with caution.”
Nicholls said they want “the participation of clinicians and professionals with relevant expertise, as well as young people with lived experience and their families”.
Kids already receiving treatment can continue to do so. Other support services like counselling will remain available, with an independent external reviewer leading the investigation.
Nicholls confirmed, “Patients who are already on a treatment plan with the Queensland Children’s Gender Service will be exempt.”
Not everyone’s thrilled about this move. Greens MP Michael Berkman accused the LNP of being fixated on “culture war crap”. A Labor spokesperson told the ABC, “Ultimately it should be a medical discussion and decision between an individual and their doctors — not one made by politicians.”
Eloise Brook from AusPath (that’s the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health) isn’t happy either. In a statement she said, “Hormone treatments for the small number of young people who need them are essential health care.”
“The evidence shows that denying access to this care will cause young people immeasurable trauma, contributing to depression, anxiety and in some cases self-harm.”
Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown also condemned the Health Minister’s choice. “This will be catastrophic for young trans people and their families when the evidence on the benefits of hormone treatments is clear and well established,” she said.
“This move is at odds with the current evidence base, expert consensus, health services in all other Australian states and territories and the majority of clinical guidelines around the world.
“Only last year a review in Queensland found that practices in the state’s gender clinics were safe and evidence based, recommending increased funding and capacity to reach regional areas.
“Governments should stay out of these deeply personal decisions and leave it to young people, their parents and the expert doctors treating them.”
From the comments on Nicholls latest Instagram Post, it seems many members of the public agree:
On the flip side, Bob Katter‘s Australian Party MP Shane Knuth is all for the review. He congratulated Nicholls and had urged him to “consult with those who have been raising these concerns about gender dysphoria treatment by Queensland Health for some time”, per ABC.
This pause is set to stick around until the government looks at the review’s findings which will be completed within 10 months of the reviewer being appointed.
Lead image: 9News / Canva
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