A Queensland Mother Vows to Continue Fighting After Ban Reinstated
In a stunning turn of events, the state's government has reinstated the ban on puberty blockers and hormone treatments for children with gender dysphoria, just hours after a Supreme Court victory by a mother fighting against the measure. The decision was made by Health Minister Tim Nicholls, who used extraordinary powers granted to him in a section of the Hospital and Health Boards Act.
The mother, whose name has been protected due to legal reasons, says she is "not backing away from the fight" despite the reinstatement of the ban, which she believes was made in bad faith. She claims that her child's medical care should be decided by them, not politicians like Nicholls. "I don't think Tim Nicholls should make decisions about my child's medical care," she said. "Politicians should not make decisions about medical care."
The LGTQI legal service that represented the mother in her challenge says it will continue to explore all legal options to support trans and gender-diverse young people to access life-affirming healthcare. The service's president, Ren Shike, described the Supreme Court decision as a "significant win for the rule of law," demonstrating that the government cannot make decisions about healthcare without due process.
The ban was overturned by the Supreme Court on the basis of a lack of consultation, as required under Queensland law. However, Nicholls' new directive has reinstated the ban and will remain in place until an independent review of stage 1 and stage 2 hormone therapies is completed.
Opposition to the ban has been strong from the medical community and advocacy groups. The president of the Australian Medical Association Queensland, Dr Nick Yim, said that the ban had caused "distress and harms" to patients, families, and treating clinicians.
The decision has also sparked concerns about the impact on trans and gender-diverse young people in Queensland. Premier David Crisafulli conceded that transgender children would be "deeply saddened" by the decision.
In a stunning turn of events, the state's government has reinstated the ban on puberty blockers and hormone treatments for children with gender dysphoria, just hours after a Supreme Court victory by a mother fighting against the measure. The decision was made by Health Minister Tim Nicholls, who used extraordinary powers granted to him in a section of the Hospital and Health Boards Act.
The mother, whose name has been protected due to legal reasons, says she is "not backing away from the fight" despite the reinstatement of the ban, which she believes was made in bad faith. She claims that her child's medical care should be decided by them, not politicians like Nicholls. "I don't think Tim Nicholls should make decisions about my child's medical care," she said. "Politicians should not make decisions about medical care."
The LGTQI legal service that represented the mother in her challenge says it will continue to explore all legal options to support trans and gender-diverse young people to access life-affirming healthcare. The service's president, Ren Shike, described the Supreme Court decision as a "significant win for the rule of law," demonstrating that the government cannot make decisions about healthcare without due process.
The ban was overturned by the Supreme Court on the basis of a lack of consultation, as required under Queensland law. However, Nicholls' new directive has reinstated the ban and will remain in place until an independent review of stage 1 and stage 2 hormone therapies is completed.
Opposition to the ban has been strong from the medical community and advocacy groups. The president of the Australian Medical Association Queensland, Dr Nick Yim, said that the ban had caused "distress and harms" to patients, families, and treating clinicians.
The decision has also sparked concerns about the impact on trans and gender-diverse young people in Queensland. Premier David Crisafulli conceded that transgender children would be "deeply saddened" by the decision.
this is so not cool 
just when we think progress is made 
they go back to square one 
it's like politicians are more concerned about being popular 
than doing what's right 
my heart goes out to that poor mom and her kid 
the medical community is speaking up too 
Dr Yim said it all 
gotta keep fighting 
can't believe politicians like Tim Nicholls are still trying to control something as personal and life-changing as someone's medical care... my heart goes out to that mum who just wants what's best for her child, she shouldn't have to fight so hard for basic human rights... and the fact that there's already a law in place that requires consultation, it just sounds like a bunch of bureaucratic red tape 
the medical community is absolutely right, this ban has caused harm and distress to so many people... why can't we just focus on supporting each other instead of fighting? 
? the fact that a mother fought so hard for her kid and then had to fight again because of some 'extraordinary powers' is just heartbreaking 
... it's not like this is rocket science, just common sense 
. My fave singer, Hayley Kiyoko, always says 'be yourself' and now the gov is tryin' to control people's bodies 
. This is just so wrong...
When you think politicians have finally learned to listen 
, but nope! 
" 
what kind of society do we live in where our health is decided by people who have no idea what it's like to be us? 
