On 28 January 2025, the Director-General of Queensland Health issued a health service directive to pause Stage 1 Treatment and Stage 2 Treatment for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, pending an independent review of the evidence-base.
Today the Supreme Court set aside the direction issued by the Director-General for procedural reasons, in relation to consultation. The Supreme Court was concerned with the circumstances of the making of the directive, not whether a pause on Stage 1 Treatment or Stage 2 Treatment was appropriate.
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).
The Government's position on this matter remains unchanged. 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. 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.
As parents, as communities and as a State, we owe it to children to ensure care is grounded on solid evidence and we act with caution. It is with these principles clearly in mind that I will come to a decision.
