We should copy UK puberty-blocker ban, says WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam

WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam the only political leader in Australia with a policy to ban the use of puberty blockers, which have now been barred by the UK Labour government.

WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam. Picture: NewsWire / Emma Kirk

The bipartisan endorsement of a UK ban on puberty blockers for children should stir parliamentarians across the country to consider similar steps, WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam says.

With Peter Dutton and other Liberal leaders so far resisting advocating for the banning of medical treatments for children experiencing gender dysphoria, Ms Mettam said the UK’s move should put the issue on the agenda of both her Coalition colleagues and Labor leaders around Australia.

The UK Labour government this week announced it would ban the sale and supply of puberty-suppressing hormones to under 16s indefinitely, making permanent the measure first put in place by the former Conservative government earlier this year.

Ms Mettam is the only political leader in Australia with a policy to ban the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone treatments, and surgical interventions for the gender transition of children under the age of 16. The WA Liberal leader – who recently survived a leadership challenge – faces an uphill battle to get her policy into law given her party only holds three of 59 lower house seats and is the rank underdog for the March state election.

Speaking to The Australian on Friday, Ms Mettam said the UK’s decision should put the issue on the agenda of both her Coalition colleagues and Labor leaders around Australia.

“I encourage all members of parliament and leaders in other jurisdictions just to simply put the ideology aside, look at the evidence and ask that question: in the face of all of this evidence, can we hand on heart say that the current treatments are in the best interests of our children? And if the answer is no, at least put a pause on those treatments and review those treatments,” she said.

“We must ensure that the treatment of children and young people with gender dysphoria is safe in the long term as well as the short term. And given the overwhelming body of evidence we’re seeing across the world, in the UK, in Europe, and the United States, we can no longer turn a blind eye to this.”

Announcing the UK’s puberty blocker ban earlier this week, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the medicine had been provided on grounds of insufficient evidence.

“It is a scandal such medicine (has been) given to vulnerable young children without proof it is safe, effective or through rigorous safe­guards of a clinical trial,” he said.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 29: Health Secretary Wes Streeting hosts a Movember breakfast reception at Downing Street on November 29, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Vogler – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The changes introduced in the UK stemmed from a four-year study by pediatrician Hilary Cass, who found that treatment guidelines were based on “remarkably weak evidence”.

Ms Mettam, who is also the WA opposition’s health spokeswoman, said it was significant that a policy that was first introduced by a Conservative government had since been adopted and expanded by a Labour government.

“This illustrates that this is not about ideology or politics, this is about the health and safety of children,” she said.

Most other health leaders have backed the country’s existing gender affirming services.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler referred questions on the matter to the Department of Health and Aged Care, which said gender services were the responsibility of the states and territories, but all models are centred around multidisciplinary care.

“Decisions regarding clinical care are shared between the clinicians, the young person and their family,” a department spokesperson said.

They added that the safety of all medicines were continually monitored by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

“The TGA works, both independently and with international regulators, to analyse the latest evidence from clinical trials, follow-up studies, and other data sources relating to the safety of specific products,” they said.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park also backed his state’s services. Earlier this year, NSW Health commissioned an independent review of international and domestic literature that examined treatments for young people with gender dysphoria.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park during his speech at the state government’s drug summit on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“Its findings support the multidisciplinary care provided by the statewide NSW Specialist Trans and Gender Diverse Health Service,” a spokesman said.

“These are some of the most vulnerable members of the community, and the review finds that it is important these people have access to care.”

Likewise, a Victorian government spokesperson said the Cass Review “clearly demonstrates that the UK and Australia have fundamentally different systems for the provision of care to trans children and young people”.

“We also know the very real harms that happen when young people with gender dysphoria are denied access to the care and treatment they need.”

A spokeswoman for WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the state had no immediate plans for a review of gender identity services, but continued to monitor emerging best practice across the world.

“The decision to use puberty blockers is rare and not made lightly – it is a decision that is made between clinicians and families, after a comprehensive mental health and multidisciplinary team assessment,” she said.

“The Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) Gender Diversity Service was thoroughly reviewed in 2021, and the model of care was deemed sound and appropriate.”

South Australia’s Health Minister Chris Picton said he was taking on board the feedback from the independent reviews that have recently been completed in Queensland and NSW.

Professor Ashleigh Lin – the head of the national peak body for trans health, AusPATH – said the Australian approach was in line with the national Standards of Care where it is person-centred and considers a patient’s psychosocial circumstances, preferences, and developmental stage.

“All the teams in Australia operate under a multi disciplinary team practice, and there is thorough assessment of all children by medical and mental health professionals before they start on any medication,” Professor Lin said.

She also rubbished suggestions that children seeking care were automatically or even routinely prescribed puberty blockers, and warned against politicising the issue.

“(Politicians) are not trained to make decisions about clinical care. Our doctors are very dedicated doctors who act in the best interest of the children,” she said.

“We need to put away all the controversy and fanfare around this and trust our medical practitioners to do the best for our children.”

Parents of Adolescents with Gender Distress – Victoria, a group of 45 parents who advocate for mental health support rather than medical interventions for their children and young adults, said the UK’s shift away from puberty blockers was a welcome first step that should be discussed in Australia.

“It is of enormous frustration to us that politicians at both state and federal level have refused to engage with us and continue to hide behind the erroneous assumption that our processes are ‘profoundly different’ to the UK,” the group said in a statement.

“It is to our government’s shame that the UK and many other countries have the courage to address the issue and Australia does not.”

Additional reporting: Penny Timms, Natasha Robinson