MEDIA RELEASE
Women’s Forum Australia welcomes the Queensland Government’s decision to extend its ban on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors in the public health system until at least 2031, as well as the Northern Territory Government’s announcement that it will prohibit these interventions for under children under 18 in its public health services.
These significant policy decisions represent an important step toward safeguarding the physical, psychological and developmental wellbeing of children and adolescents.
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls announced the five-year extension on Friday following the release of the Crisafulli Government’s Independent Review Advice Report into the use of puberty suppression (Stage 1) and gender-affirming (Stage 2) hormones for children and adolescents with gender dysphoria in Queensland public hospitals.
“The Review has found that the evidence base underlying the use of Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone therapy for young people with gender dysphoria is limited, and that there is a paucity of evidence about other long-term risks or benefits of these treatments,” Minister Nicholls said.
The Queensland ban will remain in place until at least 2031, pending completion of the UK Pathways Trial.
Today, Northern Territory Health Minister Steven Edgington confirmed the Territory would follow Queensland’s lead.
“Territory kids deserve to grow up free from these dangerous, ideologically driven practices with irreversible consequences,” Mr Edgington said.
“The Finocchiaro CLP Government will continue to put the safety and wellbeing of our children first.”
Women’s Forum Australia CEO Rachael Wong said the decisions reflect a long-overdue recognition of the irreversible risks posed by gender-related medical interventions and the absence of a reliable evidence base to justify their use on minors.
“For years, vulnerable young people have been exposed to experimental medical interventions without robust evidence of safety, efficacy or long-term outcomes,” Ms Wong said.
“We commend the Queensland and Northern Territory governments for prioritising the health and future of children over ideology and political pressure.”
Ms Wong said it was now time for the Federal Government to take responsibility.
“Not a single state or federal health authority has endorsed the Standards of Care for minors, yet two health ministers have now rejected the interventions they promote. Children in other jurisdictions and private practice, should not be subjected to experimental treatments while governments delay behind the NHMRC review.”
Women’s Forum Australia Head of Advocacy Stephanie Bastiaan said it was now time for the Health Minister to stop hiding behind state governments and take responsibility for national regulation.
“Mr Butler should be working with the Therapeutic Goods Administration to impose national restrictions on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, ensuring they are not prescribed to minors for gender-related medical interventions,” Mrs Bastiaan said.
“If these drugs are considered too risky for children in public hospitals, they should not be freely available through private clinics.”
“The only reason these drugs remain accessible to minors is a failure of federal leadership. Minister Butler must act now to ensure consistent, national protections for all children.”
Earlier this year, Women’s Forum Australia coordinated a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling for an immediate pause on all medical gender interventions for children and young people pending an urgent independent national inquiry into youth gender medicine in Australia, after the government dismissed the findings of the UK Cass Review as irrelevant to Australia.
The letter was signed by more than 100 doctors, academics, lawyers, politicians, advocates and detransitioners, including former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson.
Women’s Forum Australia remains committed to advocating for evidence-led health policy and will continue to push for decisive federal action to safeguard children and young people.
ENDS.
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Women’s Forum Australia is an independent think tank that undertakes research, education and public policy advocacy on issues affecting women and girls, with a particular focus on addressing behaviours and practices that are harmful and abusive to them. We are a non-partisan, non-religious, tax-deductible charity. We do not receive any government funding and rely solely on donations to make an impact. Support our work today.
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