Australia Reviews Youth Hormone Treatment Guidelines

The Albanese government in Australia has initiated a national review spearheaded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to establish guidelines for the treatment of transgender children, focusing on puberty blockers and hormone therapies. This follows Queensland's decision to pause new prescriptions for under-18s after reports of unauthorized treatments at the Cairns Sexual Health Service, raising concerns about clinical governance and patient consent. Health Minister Mark Butler emphasized the need for consistent national standards, countering Queensland's independent review. The Queensland pause has been criticized by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr. Anna Cody, who highlights the risk to children's mental and physical health due to delayed care. The Australian Medical Association's Queensland branch urged for decisions to be guided by medical expertise rather than ideology, highlighting the high suicide risk among untreated LGBTQI+ youth. This debate reflects broader international scrutiny, with several countries tightening regulations on gender-affirming treatments for minors.