A mother is challenging the Queensland state government’s ban on transgender hormone therapy for under 18s. The Supreme Court hearing began today. It is a closed court hearing to maintain the privacy of the child. The mother can’t be identified due to child privacy laws.
The ban only applies to patients in the state public health system. Patients in the private system can still receive transgender hormone therapy. Not sure why. Possibly because the state doesn’t fund the private system. The federal government funds Medicare rebates for the private system. The public system is controlled by each state government.
Separate reviews of transgender hormone therapy for children are underway by both the Queensland state government and the Australian federal government. The Queensland review is due at the end of November. I’m not sure when the federal review is due. The federal government tried to get Queensland to drop their review but they declined. Different political parties are in power for each. Queensland has the Liberal National Party (LNP) in power. Despite their name they aren’t liberal. They’re conservative and right wing. The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is in power federally. They’re liberal but much more towards central these days rather than the left.
Background on the case:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-07/qld-puberty-blocker-freeze-challenged-in-supreme-court/105263204
Official document with reasons for the ban:
https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Tabled-Papers/docs/5825t0606/5825t606.pdf
Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC) document about paediatric hormone therapy:
https://www.qhrc.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0005/55346/Review-of-Stage-1-and-Stage-2-hormone-therapies-in-Queenslands-public-paediatrics-gender-services.docx
Not much in the mainstream news so far. I’ve found this. It’s pretty comprehensive.
https://qnews.com.au/community-rally-in-support-of-mum-fighting-trans-puberty-blocker-ban/
I’m worried that the court will rule in favour of the mother and open up hormone therapy again. Vulnerable children will then be put on the path to transition again and having their health damaged.