Concerns Queensland’s call on gender-affirming healthcare will cause harm and distress

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody is deeply disappointed by the Queensland Government’s decision today which will prevent young people with gender dysphoria from accessing puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormone treatment. 

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody said the decision will cause significant distress to trans and gender-diverse young people, as well as their families and carers, who rely on this highly specialised healthcare. 

‘Stage 1 and 2 hormone therapies are supported by Australia’s leading medical bodies, including the Australian Medical Association, AusPATH and other professional health organisations, as part of evidence-based, carefully governed care for trans and gender-diverse young people,’ Dr Cody said. 

‘Denying access to this care risks real and lasting harm. These decisions are not abstract - they affect the lives, mental health and safety of young people who are already among the most vulnerable in our community.’ 

Dr Cody is concerned the government is ignoring the findings of their own review.  

‘The Vine review does not recommend a blanket ban on puberty blockers or hormone treatments,’ Dr Cody said. ‘It recognises the complexity of care and the need for careful, individualised, multidisciplinary decision-making. 

‘Pending the outcome of the Federal Government’s national clinical review, existing clinical pathways should continue. Suspending access now undermines medical best practice and fails to protect the rights and wellbeing of affected young people.’ 

‘Public confidence depends on openness, medical integrity and respect for human rights,’ Dr Cody said. ‘Healthcare decisions should be guided by the best available medical evidence, the best interest of the young person, and the voices of those directly impacted. 

‘Every young person deserves dignity, care and has a right to the highest attainable standard of health,’ Dr Cody said. ‘Governments must act in the best interest of all children, not deepen fear and uncertainty.” 

What are puberty blockers? 

Puberty blockers work by stopping the brain from sending signals to the body to produce sex hormones like oestrogen or testosterone. This means things like periods, facial hair or voice changes don’t start or continue while the medicine is being used. For some young people, puberty can make the distress of gender dysphoria - a condition where someone feels distress because their gender doesn’t match the sex they were assigned at birth - worse. Puberty blockers give them and their families more time to explore how they feel and decide on the next steps.  

What are stage 2 hormone treatments?  

Stage 2 hormone treatment involves taking oestrogen or testosterone to help a person’s body develop the physical traits that match their gender identity. This treatment can improve mental health, body comfort and overall wellbeing. 

These hormones can lead to changes like: 

• Oestrogen: breast development, softer skin, reduced body hair, changes in fat distribution. 

• Testosterone: deeper voice, facial and body hair growth, increased muscle mass.