Tony Abbott, MP Greg Donnelly among 100+ calling for urgent federal inquiry into youth gender medicine

More than 100 prominent Australians, including a former Prime Minister, have signed a letter to Anthony Albanese calling for a pause on all medical “gender-affirmation” treatments for children.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire

More than 100 prominent Australians, including a former prime minister, politicians across the political divide and top doctors are calling for an urgent federal inquiry into youth gender medicine which they claim has become a national crisis.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has received a letter asking for an independent national inquiry into youth gender medicine and a pause on all medical ‘gender-affirmation’ treatments for children and young people across all states.

The letter, co-ordinated by Women’s Forum Australia in conjunction with medical and legal professionals including child psychiatrist Jillian Spencer, has attracted support from more than 40 doctors, academics, legal practitioners, MPs and advocates from across the political divide. These include Tony Abbott, John Anderson, Labor MP Greg Donnelly, Liberal Senator Claire Chandler, Libertarian MP David Limbrick, Professor Clive Hamilton, Associate Professor Holly Lawford-Smith, and Professor Emerita Bronwyn Winter.

Former Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott. Picture: Martin Ollman

Detransitioners Mel Jefferies, Courtney Coulson, and Jay Langadinos have also signed.

This comes after the LNP Queensland Government announced it would be pausing prescriptions of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to new patients under 18, pending an independent review into the evidence underpinning ‘gender-affirming’ care. This follows shocking revelations that a state-funded gender clinic was prescribing puberty blockers to children as young as 12 without proper medical assessments or parental consent.

Women’s Forum Australia chief executive Rachael Wong says Queensland is just one example of malpractice, and that there are serious concerns about “gender-affirming” practices across Australia, which are now out of line with international developments.

“We urgently need a consensus across the country on how to support vulnerable gender distressed children and young people in a way that best supports their health and wellbeing both short and long term, and that is in line with best practice and the most up to date evidence,” she said.

Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls at the Cairns Hospital after the state government declared hormone therapies for new gender diverse patients under 18 years old will be paused at public health facilities. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Undertaking an independent federal inquiry with the co-operation of the states is the most efficient way to ascertain what is happening Australia-wide rather than each state or territory expending time and resources repeating what will essentially be the same exercise. And in the meantime, all “gender-affirming” interventions must be paused to prevent further harm.

“This is a national health crisis, and it requires an urgent national response.”

The United Kingdom has banned new prescriptions of puberty blockers altogether outside of clinical trials following the release of the Cass Review, which found a lack of evidence underpinning the affirmation model of care.

United States President Donald Trump has also just signed an Executive Order ending public funding for ‘gender-affirming’ practices for minors under the age of 19.

Detransitioner Mel Jeffries says it’s time for our political leaders to act .

“I am tired of waiting for those in power to be leaders and to course correct on this issue.

Those who have been harmed have been unacknowledged for too long,” she said.

Originally published as Tony Abbott, MP Greg Donnelly among 100+ calling for urgent federal inquiry into youth gender medicine