‘Safety and concern’ spark puberty blocker ban, not party ideology, Minister says
Pausing puberty blockers is based on “science and concern”, not ideology, the Queensland Health Minister says.
The Queensland Health Minister says pausing puberty blockers is a decision guided by “science and concern”, not party ideology.
The pause on new puberty blocking and gender affirming prescriptions was triggered after a whistleblower exposed the Cairns Sexual Health Service had delivered an apparently unauthorised pediatric gender service without an agreed model of care.
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls announced a review into the Cairns clinic, and the evidence behind the hormonal treatments, on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Mr Nicholls said the 10-month pause was not a case of Liberal National Party of Queensland values being put ahead of medical advice.
“We have been clear about the reasons we are doing this,” he said.
The Minister pointed to the situation at the Cairns clinic, “serious concerns” about a 2024 report in Queensland into gender affirming therapies, and “the evidence emerging from around the world in relation to how they are used and the model of prescription”.
“They are all solid reasons based on science and concern. They are not based on any other case.”
While no new patients under the age of 18 will be prescribed puberty blockers during the pause, the drugs can still be given for precocious puberty cases: where puberty comes on particularly early.
Children experiencing gender dysphoria are still encouraged to go to public sexual health clinics, where they will be able to receive psychological and social assistance. People taking the drugs can continue to do so.
There are between 450 to 500 children and teenagers on the waitlist for puberty blockers in Queensland - it fluctuates daily, the Minister says - and those patients cannot start hormone treatment during the suspension.
A preliminary review of the Cairns Sexual Health Service has found Stage 1 hormone therapy, known as puberty blockers, and Stage 2 hormone therapy, known as gender affirming hormones, were being administered in a way that might not have aligned with Australian guidelines.
The clinic’s diagnosis and treatment is being scrutinised.
“The Cairns Sexual Health Service delivered an apparently unauthorised pediatric gender service without an agreed model of care,” Mr Nicholls said.
The Minister says medical credentialing, the scope of practice and medico-legal concerns relating to patient and parental consent will be investigated.
“The service was delivered to 42 pediatric gender services clients, 17 of whom were prescribed Stage 1 or Stage 2 hormone therapy.”
Mr Nicholls also warned abusive members of the public to stop harassing staff at the Cairns clinic.
The Minister said he had spoken to the Cairns Sexual Health Service chief executive, and the clinic had been receiving abusive calls and emails
“I want to call it out. That is clearly unacceptable. We support our staff, we support our staff at the CSHS. They are staff who are doing an important job … those staff were not involved in the circumstances that have led to the current investigations. They are innocent in that respect.”
“I want to say to those staff, we support you. This is not of your making.”
“There is no cause to be abusing the staff at the Cairns Sexual Health Service.”
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