Rewrite script on puberty blockers

The pause on new prescriptions of puberty blockers from December 19 by the New Zealand government, aligning its approach with Britain and Scandinavian countries, has put the spotlight on Australia’s policy. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says the science underpinning the prescription of puberty blockers to gender-distressed children is “contested and evolving”. But at this stage the minister remains comfortable with the status quo, leaving the matter to state governments to decide individually and awaiting the National Health and Medical Research Council review of gender-affirming care, including the use of puberty blockers, due in the middle of next year.

The NHMRC review was ordered following British pediatrician Hilary Cass’s review of gender medicine, which cast doubt on the efficacy of ­puberty blockers. At this stage, only Queensland has paused use of the drugs. A fortnight ago, Australia reached what should be a significant turning point when former Family Court chief justice Diana Bryant, who led the court in 2013 when it green-lit liberalised access of puberty blockers to minors, expressed doubts about the landmark ruling. Ms Bryant now says it may be better for parliaments to step in and regulate pediatric gender medicine rather than relying on whatever disputes come before judges.

On Wednesday, NZ Health Minister Simeon Brown announced a sensible policy. Puberty blockers will continue to be available for existing gender-distressed patients and for clinical use in treating conditions such as endometriosis and prostate cancer. But, citing a “lack of high-quality evidence” for the benefits of puberty blockers, Mr Brown said the New Zealand cabinet had agreed to hold off on new prescriptions until the outcome of a clinical trial run by Britain’s National Health Service that began this year and will run until 2031. In Australia, the government needs to step up. A definitive national position, informed by the most recent evidence, should not be kicked down the road for much longer.