One Law For All NSW opposes reinstated QLD puberty blocker ban

Along with LGBTQ+ people all across Australia, we at One Law For All NSW were overjoyed to hear of Queensland Supreme Court’s ruling overturning the health minister’s “political” and “unlawful” ban on puberty blockers. And so to find, only the next day, that the minister had doubled down on his actions and reissued the ban was nothing short of horrific. 

The lawsuit was brought by the mother of a trans child, who described the ordeal as “harrowing and traumatising.” The Guardian Australia reported that the ban affected about 491 children who were on the waiting list at the Queensland Children’s Gender Service, with the approximately 600 young people already undergoing treatment thankfully able to continue.

Puberty blockers, medications that prevent the production of hormones like testosterone and oestrogen and thus prevent bodily changes caused by puberty, are essential treatment for trans youth. Studies, such as this 2022 study from the Journal of Adolescent Research, have clearly described the feelings of anxiety and distress of trans children caused by the prospect of developing sex characteristics inconsistent with their gender during puberty- this anxiety beginning in early childhood and only growing as their understanding increased. Many participants in the study expressed that the development of these characteristics would cause them to self-harm. “A number of parents felt a strong reassurance that blockers would be accessible, was vital for managing anxiety and well-being in the years leading up to puberty,” the researchers observed. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners labelled denying trans teens treatment “cruel and unethical.” A study, determined to be the highest quality found by authors of a 2024 review, found that puberty blockers reduced suicidal thoughts and actions in transgender adolescents compared to those who had not accessed the treatment. 

One Law For All NSW firmly supports the right of trans youth to access healthcare which is nonnegotiable for their mental and physical wellbeing. The use of trans kids as political footballs has to stop, and we call on the Queensland government to respect the court’s ruling and withdraw this harmful ban once and for all.

A list of support services can be found below.

Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636

Lifeline - 13 11 14

Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800 

QLife - 1800 184 527

headspace - 1800 650 890

Suicide Callback Service - 1300 659 467

MensLine Australia - 1300 78 99 78