Family First National Director and NSW Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton has today announced that, if elected, he will push for government funding to conduct a comprehensive New South Wales study into the long-term impacts of so-called “gender-affirming care” on children and young people.
Mr Shelton said a major new Finnish study had raised serious concerns about the mental health outcomes of young people undergoing medicalised gender interventions, highlighting the urgent need for Australian authorities to investigate the issue locally.
“A landmark study published in *Acta Paediatrica*, using nationwide Finnish health data, has found that young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria are already experiencing significantly higher rates of psychiatric distress — and that these rates worsen following medical interventions,” Mr Shelton said.
“The research showed that more than 60 per cent of young people who underwent gender-related medical treatment required specialist psychiatric care more than two years later, compared with just 14.6 per cent of their peers.
“That should alarm every parent and policymaker in New South Wales.”
Mr Shelton said the study was particularly significant because it tracked patients over time using comprehensive national data, overcoming the limitations of many previous studies in this area.
“This is not anecdotal evidence — this is population-level data spanning decades,” he said.
“It found that psychological distress not only predates a gender dysphoria diagnosis, but in many cases intensifies after medical intervention.”
Mr Shelton said the findings reinforced growing international concern about the medicalisation of gender-confused children, with countries like Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom already tightening restrictions on such treatments.
“New South Wales cannot afford to blindly follow activist-led models when credible international evidence is raising red flags,” he said.
“If elected, Family First will seek funding for an independent, evidence-based NSW inquiry to examine the long-term physical and mental health outcomes of children subjected to puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgical interventions.”
Mr Shelton said the inquiry would prioritise patient safety, transparency and the role of alternative therapeutic approaches.
“We need to ensure that vulnerable young people receive compassionate care that addresses underlying psychological issues, rather than being fast-tracked into irreversible medical treatments,” he said.
“This is about putting the wellbeing of children ahead of ideology.”
Mr Shelton emphasised that the proposed NSW study would give families, clinicians and policymakers access to robust local data.
“Australians deserve answers based on evidence — not slogans,” he said.
“Family First will always stand for policies that protect children and support families in navigating these complex issues with truth and compassion.”
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