MEDIA RELEASE
Family First National Director Lyle Shelton has reaffirmed the party's commitment to protecting gender-confused children from puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and mutilating surgeries following a legal challenge against the Queensland Government's ban on prescribing puberty blockers to minors.
The case before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), initiated by the LGBT Legal Service, seeks compensation and an apology on behalf of a child unable to access puberty blockers through Queensland's public health system.
Mr Shelton said the legal action demonstrates why Family First is determined to continue fighting to protect vulnerable children from harmful and experimental medical interventions.
"This latest legal challenge is a reminder that small but powerful activist groups remain determined to restore access to puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for children despite growing international evidence of the harm these treatments can cause," Mr Shelton said.
"Family First will not back down from our commitment to protect children from gender ideology and irreversible medical interventions.
"If elected in New South Wales and Victoria, Family First parliamentarians will push to close child gender clinics and prohibit the chemical castration and surgical mutilation of minors."
Mr Shelton said Queensland's decision to maintain the pause on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones followed serious concerns about clinical practices within the state's child gender services.
"The Queensland Government deserves credit for maintaining the pause, but it remains a mystery why it refuses to reinstate whistleblower psychiatrist Dr Jillian Spencer, whose concerns about these practices have increasingly been vindicated by international evidence.
"Dr Spencer showed courage in speaking out when many others remained silent."
Children can access puberty blockers in private clinics in Queensland and both private and public clinics in all other parts of Australia.
Mr Shelton said the legal action highlighted the ideological nature of the campaign to provide children with gender treatments.
"The LGBTI Legal Service is seeking compensation because a child has been prevented from accessing puberty blockers.
"QCAT has reportedly expanded the matter into a representative action that could potentially involve many other children.
"If successful, taxpayers could be exposed to millions of dollars in compensation claims simply because the government acted to protect children from treatments that carry lifelong consequences."
Mr Shelton said children could not provide informed consent to interventions that may result in infertility, impaired sexual function and other long-term health complications.
"Children cannot fully understand the implications of decisions that may permanently alter their bodies and futures.
"That is why countries such as the United Kingdom, Finland and Sweden have banned or dramatically wound back these practices after reviewing the evidence."
Mr Shelton pointed to the UK's Cass Review, which found the evidence base underpinning paediatric gender medicine to be weak and led to the closure of London’s child gender clinic, the Tavistock Centre.
"Even Britain's weak and woke Labour Government has maintained the ban on puberty blockers because the evidence of harm can’t be ignored.
"The international trend is clear. Responsible governments are moving to protect children, not expose them to experimental medical interventions."
Mr Shelton said Family First's position was founded on compassion for children experiencing gender distress.
"Children who are struggling deserve high-quality psychological care and support, not irreversible medical interventions driven by ideology.
"This legal action only strengthens Family First's resolve to ensure Australian children are protected from treatments that many around the world are now recognising as harmful."