New Zealand bans puberty blockers for children — Family First urges Australian politicians to find the courage to protect kids
Family First National Director Lyle Shelton has welcomed the New Zealand Government's decision to ban puberty blockers for new child patients, calling it a "common-sense, child-protection measure that Australia should have implemented years ago."
"New Zealand has aligned itself with the UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway and multiple US states in recognising what the evidence now overwhelmingly shows: puberty blockers are experimental, harmful, and unsupported by high-quality clinical research. They should never have been handed out to vulnerable children in the first place."
Mr Shelton said the contrast with Australia was now stark and shameful.
"Family First is fighting to take the pressure off families who are worried about LGBTIQA+ gender fluid activism in their children's schools and in the health system."
Mr Shelton, who warned during the same-sex marriage plebiscite that activists would target children's gender next, said today's news was a major setback for a political movement that has overreached to the detriment of children.
"While New Zealand now takes a precautionary approach based on evidence, Australian Labor and Liberal politicians continue to look the other way — even as the harms pile up and whistleblowers are punished for speaking truth."
"While the Queensland LNP government has paused their use pending an investigation, it sends mixed messages as it continues to punish whistleblower Dr Jillian Spencer for raising safety concerns that the Cass Review, the UK health system and now the New Zealand Government all agree are valid."
Mr Shelton said that Australia's political class was increasingly isolated internationally.
"The evidence of harm is overwhelming. The Cass Review and the New Zealand Ministry of Health's own evidence brief show that the claimed benefits of puberty blockers are scarce, low-quality and uncertain — while the risks to bone density, brain development and fertility are real."
"Despite this, Australian politicians remain paralysed. They fear activist backlash more than they fear children being hurt. That must change."
Mr Shelton urged federal and state MPs from both major parties to follow New Zealand's lead immediately.
"Protecting children should not be a left-right issue. It should be a moral imperative. New Zealand has acted. Australia must too."
"Family First will continue to expose the failures of governments that put ideology ahead of child safety. And we will stand with parents, whistleblowers and clinicians who refuse to stay silent while experimental drugs are used on vulnerable kids."
"The tide is turning internationally. Australian politicians must stop ignoring the evidence and start protecting children."
