More than 100 prominent Australians, including former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, have signed a letter urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to pause all medical "gender-affirmation" treatments for children. The letter, organized by the Women’s Forum Australia and dated January 29, 2025, calls for urgent federal inquiry and highlights rising concerns over the safety and efficacy of such treatments.
Just hours after Queensland paused hormone therapy for public patients under 18, the matter gained traction nationally. Signatories of the letter include not only medical professionals like child psychiatrists and general practitioners but also legal advocates, academics, and politicians advocating for the protection of youth undergoing gender transition treatments.
“We are writing as concerned citizens to call for an immediate public inquiry... until this inquiry is complete,” the letter states, expressing alarm amid global shifts surrounding the treatment of gender-dysphoric youth. “Recent developments globally have exposed serious concerns about the ‘gender-affirming’ approach to treating gender-confused youth,” the authors write.
The letter goes on to detail troubling findings presented by the UK's Cass Review, which indicated no reliable evidence base for gender transition interventions among minors, leading to the National Health Service halting its use of puberty blockers outside clinical trials. These developments resonate strongly down under, where the authors suggest Australia has lagged behind.
Notably, the letter raises issues about the potential consequences of medical interventions such as puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. “Medical interventions can cause irreversible harm... including physiological damage and social difficulties,” they caution, emphasizing anecdotal accounts from individuals who identify as 'detransitioners', people who have reversed their medical transitions and often cite underlying issues such as untreated trauma.
This issue took on increased urgency as the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, confirmed the state’s decision to review the evidence for hormone therapy treatment for children following concerns raised during audits of pediatric gender services. A preliminary review found discrepancies with Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines.
Hanson urged other governments to follow Queensland's lead, calling it a vindication of her party's long-held views on the risks associated with puberty blockers. “Other governments in Australia need to follow suit immediately,” she stated, citing her party's sustained push for inquiries on the concerns surrounding the issuance of such treatments.
During this pivotal moment, opposition leaders have also been sent the letter, highlighting the push for bipartisan support on such a delicate issue. The authors assert, “This is a potential public health disaster of generational significance...;” the stakes are evidently high as political discourse ramps up around safeguarding the health of minors.
Responses to the letter have ranged across the political spectrum, demonstrating the contentious nature of the topic. Some figures maintain their support for the existing treatment protocols, arguing against the necessity of reversing directions without sufficient evidence.
After all the pledges and claims, the public discourse surrounding gender identity treatments continues to provoke heated debate, but many advocates feel the growing consensus is shifting toward caution and reform.
The letter's final pronouncement calls for immediate action: “Until an inquiry is complete, all ‘gender-affirmation’ interventions for children and young people must be paused to prevent harm.” This assertion reflects the broader anxieties felt by signatories about the future of youth health interventions as the conversation around gender identity continues to evolve.