Queensland’s health minister has reinstated a ban on access to puberty blockers for under 18s in the state.
It came six hours after the Supreme Court overturned a freeze on access to the medication that had been in place since January.
The restriction is expected to remain until the Government completes a review of gender-affirming care in Queensland.
Puberty blockers
Puberty blockers temporarily stop or delay the hormonal changes that occur during adolescence. They are often the first stage of gender-affirming care.
The medication pauses the body’s production of testosterone or oestrogen. This can prevent changes like menstruation, breast development, voice changes, and facial hair. The effects are reversible.
The Australian Journal of General Practice says the practice aims to “align physical appearance with gender identity,” by changing the body’s testosterone or oestrogen levels.
Govt ban
Last May, a 12-year-old was allegedly prescribed puberty blockers by Cairns Sexual Health Service without the appropriate level of medical guidance.
National guidelines state adolescents need to receive medical, mental health, and sexual health advice before commencing treatment.
It’s alleged the service gave “unauthorised” gender care to at least 42 children, 17 of whom received either puberty blockers or hormone therapy.
In January 2025, Nicholls said in a statement the Cairns incident “raised serious concerns” about the prescription of hormone therapies across Queensland.
He issued a ban on puberty blocker access for under-18s.
Shortly after the initial ban took effect, the mother of a transgender child launched a legal challenge against Queensland Health.
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Court case
The court heard Queensland Health Director-General David Rosengren announced the ban to health practitioners in a 22 minute Microsoft Teams meeting.
The meeting was held after the details of the ban had already been finalised, and while the Health Minister was announcing it at a press conference.
Lawyers for the child’s mother argued the Health Minister had illegally instructed the Director-General to issue the ban, and that there had not been enough consultation.
Representatives for Queensland Health disputed this claim, but ultimately the Court found it to be true, ruling it was applied unlawfully.
Justice Peter Callaghan said he hadn’t reviewed the “merits” of the policy, only whether proper procedures were followed.
The mother who launched the legal challenge told the ABC she was “incredibly relieved” by the decision.
New ban
Hours after the court handed down its decision, Nicholls used his ministerial powers to issue a new ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapy.
Nicholls said “the Government’s position on this matter remains unchanged,” and that it would proceed with “caution” while completing the review of gender-affirming practices for adolescents.
Patients who are already on a treatment plan are exempt from the ban.
LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Australia called on the Queensland Government to reverse the new ban, calling it an “outrageous overreach into the lives of Queensland families.”
“It’s not in the public interest for any government to interfere in healthcare decisions that should be left to young people, their families and medical professionals,” the group said.
