Australian Health Minister Orders Review Into Standards of Care for Trans Children

A decision on whether to continue using puberty blockers will be handed down next year.

Testosterone medication used for gender transitioning in Northern California on Aug. 26, 2022. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has ordered a review into the Australian standards of care and treatment guidelines for trans children and teenagers.

The news comes after 100 prominent Australians including former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and federal and state MPs from across the nation, signed a letter calling for a pause on all gender transition interventions for children and young people.

The Albanese Labor government said they believed in a strong health system for all Australians and this was especially important for vulnerable children and adolescents.

Butler sought advice from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on the current situation.

Following this advice, he’s now asked the NHMRC to undertake a “comprehensive review” of Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for trans and “gender diverse” children and adolescents in Australia.

“The provision of public gender services to young people in Australia is exclusively led by states and territories who are responsible for the relevant services and employ the relevant clinicians,” Butler said.

“But the NHMRC is the nation’s leading expert body in health and medical research, and has a statutory responsibility for developing and supporting high quality guidelines for clinical practice.”

Butler said it was imperative that there was community confidence that Australian children, adolescents, and their families were receiving the “most appropriate care.”

“The guidelines will be developed in accordance with the NHMRC’s Standards for Guidelines and the international GRADE approach,” he said.

“The NHMRC will develop the guidelines with an expert committee that includes lived experience and will be informed by public consultation, and international work.”

Decision on Puberty Blockers Next Year

In the meantime, temporary advice on the use of puberty blockers is set to be provided by the middle of next year.

“Interim advice on the use of puberty blockers will be completed in the middle of 2026. More information will be available on the NHMRC’s website shortly,” Butler said.

“It is important that this process is driven by evidence and is conducted by our most eminent medical researchers and clinicians, engaging with Australians with lived experience.”

Minister Says Queensland Should Not Go it Alone

Days earlier, Queensland’s Liberal National Party announced a pause on all stage one and stage two hormone therapy for children and adolescents with gender dysphoria.

On Jan. 28, the Queensland government announced its review following startling revelations in Cairns.

News emerged that gender clinics in Cairns allegedly prescribed children as young as 12 with puberty blockers and gender transition hormones without parental consent.

Stage one puberty blockers are used to temporarily halt the onset of puberty, while stage two cross-sex hormone therapy induces physical changes.

The pause will be in place until 2026 while the state government undertakes an independent review into stage one and two hormone therapies.

A new directive issued to Queensland Health employees restricts the provision of stage one puberty blocking hormone treatment and stage two gender transition hormones to individuals under the age of 18 with gender dysphoria.

“Puberty blockers or sex hormones will continue to be prescribed for a medical condition other than gender dysphoria,” the directive states.

Yet Minister Butler said he did not think it “appropriate” for Queensland to undertake that review.

“I don’t think it would be appropriate for Queensland to continue with their stated intention to undertake an evidence review in this area of care. These issues should be nationally consistent, and in my view, should be driven by the preeminent authority, which is the NHMRC ...” he told reporters.

‘Regret is Real’: Prominent Australians Sign Letter

The federal move follows a letter signed by prominent Australians, politicians and doctors calling for an independent public inquiry into the drugs.

The letter raised concerns medical intervention including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries could cause irreversible harm, including physiological damage, brain development issues and social and relational difficulties.

“While lifelong impacts are yet to be fully understood, regret is real, and a growing number of detransitioners believe their gender distress masked other co-mobilities, including autism, untreated sexual trauma, and discomfort with their sexuality,” the letter said.

Further, the letter noted recent developments globally had exposed serious concerns about the “gender-affirming” approach to treating gender-confused youth.

“There is now a bipartisan consensus in many countries that major changes to practice in this area are needed,” the letter states.

Signed by more than 40 doctors and child psychiatrists, it warns that the increasing reliance on medical interventions for gender transitions poses a “potential public health disaster of generational significance.”