Court Overturns Queensland’s Temporary Ban on ‘Puberty Blocker’ Drugs for Children

Queensland’s Supreme Court has overturned a directive temporarily banning hormone treatments for children under 18 suffering gender dysphoria.

Justice Peter Callaghan argued that health executives were only given 22 minutes to consider the ban on using the drug, and that there wasn’t adequate public consultation.

The decision was handed down on Oct. 28, following an action lodged by the LGBTI Legal Service against the state Liberal National Party (LNP) government.

The pause and review was pushed through in January by LNP Health Minister Tim Nicholls—the first of its kind in Australia—which was then followed by his federal counterpart, Mark Butler, ordering a national review into the use of “puberty blocking” drugs.

At the time, Nicholls said his pause was motivated by incidents involving children as young as 12 in Cairns receiving puberty blockers.

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

A review is also ongoing into the use of stage one and stage two hormone therapies for children, due at the end of the year.

Stage one medications are better known as “puberty blockers,” which prevent the onset of puberty in order to halt the development of the child’s biological sexual characteristics.

Stage 2 medications are hormone supplements, such as oestrogen or testosterone, taken to develop features of the opposite sex.

The Outcome of the Case

The action was brought by the mother of a Queensland child who identifies as trans with the LGBTI Legal Service representing.

They argued that the pause on hormone treatments was unlawful and argued that Queensland Health Director-General David Rosengren improperly exercised his power to accommodate the LNP’s wishes.

Justice Callaghan said the court’s decision rested on whether the health service had come to its decision through an independent process involving adequate public consultation.

Callaghan said the only instance of compliance in this area was when the Queensland Health CEO held a 22-minute video meeting, but it was heard this meeting did not include sufficient discussion on puberty blockers.

Barrister Mark Steele told the court the government had interfered in the process.

In turn, Queensland Health argued the discussion to ban puberty blockers began in December, weeks before the decision was made public and was based on Dr. Rosengren’s advice.

After the decision was revealed, the matter was adjourned on for submissions on costs later in the day, and a final wording of the orders to be handed down.

Government Position Unchanged

Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls released a statement shortly after, saying the case focused only on the process behind the decision, but not on the potential dangers of puberty blockers for children.

“I am considering the options available to the government, including consideration of issuing a written Ministerial Direction to all Hospital and Health Services in accordance with s 44(1) of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 (Qld),” he said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

Nicholls said the state’s position on puberty blocking drug use had not changed.

“This proposed direction would implement a restriction on the provision of Stage 1 Treatment and Stage 2 Treatment to children and adolescents under 18 years of age with gender dysphoria,” he said.

“Patients who are already on a treatment plan would remain exempt from this directive.”

“The restriction would remain in effect until such time as the government considers and acts on the outcomes of the independent review of Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone therapies, led by Professor Ruth Vine.

“The reviewers will provide a final report to the Director-General of Queensland Health by 30 November 2025.”