Butler orders NHMRC review of gender-affirming care for kids

2 minute read


Are we about to have our own Cass Review? The health minister may have conceded ground to the anti-trans lobby.


Federal health minister Mark Butler has conceded ground to the right by announcing a National Health and Medical Research Council review of the Australian standards of care and treatment guidelines for trans and gender-diverse children and adolescents.

The NHMRC has also been asked to develop new national guidelines.

On 29 January a letter signed by more than 100 doctors, psychiatrists, lawyers, politicians, academics and “detransitioners” called for a public inquiry in “youth gender medicine”.

Among the signatories were former prime minister Tony Abbott, suspended Queensland Health child psychiatrist Jillian Spencer, and former Liberal candidate Katherine Deves, who is a self-described anti-trans activist.

That letter followed the Queensland government’s decision to halt all publicly funded hormone therapy for under 18s in the state on the back of questions raised over practices at the Cairns Sexual Health Service.

Today Mr Butler stopped short of a public inquiry but his concession that the guidelines need to be looked at will give succour to those seeking to ban gender-affirming care for teenagers.

“Two weeks ago, I sought advice from the NHMRC and the Therapeutic Goods Administration on the current provision of care for trans and gender diverse Australian children and adolescents,” said Mr Butler.

“After considering that advice, I have asked the NHMRC to undertake a comprehensive review of the Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for Trans and Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents in Australia, and to develop new national guidelines.

“The provision of public gender services to young people in Australia is exclusively led by states and territories who are responsible for the relevant services and employ the relevant clinicians.

“But the NHMRC is the nation’s leading expert body in health and medical research and has a statutory responsibility for developing and supporting high quality guidelines for clinical practice.

“It is imperative there is community confidence that Australian children, adolescents and their families are receiving the most appropriate care.”

The guidelines will be developed in accordance with the NHMRC’s Standards for Guidelines and the international GRADE approach. The NHMRC will develop the guidelines with an expert committee that includes lived experience and will be informed by public consultation, and international work.

Interim advice on the use of puberty blockers will be completed in the middle of 2026, Mr Butler said.

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