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Australia’s government is yet to respond to calls to protect children from chemical castration drugs that are now banned in five European nations and half the United States.

The chemical castration of gender dysphoric children under 18 is set to be permanently banned throughout the United Kingdom thanks to the left-wing Starmer Government.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced Wednesday that a temporary ban imposed on the drugs in May will be made indefinite after an expert review found they posed an “unacceptable safety risk” to minors.

“It is a scandal that medicine was given to vulnerable children without the proof that it was safe or effective,” Mr Streeting said in announcing the ban, which will take effect across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-led,” he explained. “The independent expert Commission on Human Medicines found that the current prescribing and care pathway for gender dysphoria and incongruence presents an unacceptable safety risk for children and young people.”

The Health Secretary also flagged that the National Health Service (NHS) will begin a clinical trial into the use of the pharmaceutical products next year “to establish a clear evidence base for the use of this medicine”.

Origins of the Term ‘Puberty Blocker’

Popularly known as “puberty blockers”, the controversial medications — which are also used to castrate sex offenders — fell under heavy scrutiny in April this year after the Cass Review warned of their widespread use despite a lack of evidence.

Around the same time, the WPATH scandal broke, revealing that members of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health acknowledged the irreversible effects of the dubious medications and secretly questioned their evidence base and ethical implications.

The term “puberty blockers” came into common use in the early 2000s when there was a general belief these drugs were reversible and had no long-term health impacts. However, the Cass Review, the WPATH scandal, and this week’s NHS announcement add to an emerging picture that the “puberty blocker” label is a euphemism or propaganda term rather than an accurate medical descriptor.

Among the risks posed by the drugs are decreased bone density, potential fertility issues, psychological effects, and likely impacts on physical and cognitive development.

Dr Hillary Cass, who authored the Cass Review, voiced her support of the Starmer Government’s ban, saying, “Puberty blockers are powerful drugs with unproven benefits and significant risks”. She added that “they should only be prescribed following a multi-disciplinary assessment and within a research protocol”.

Albanese Government Silence

The United Kingdom will become at least the fifth European nation to impose a federal ban on chemical castration for minors, following similar moves in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.

In the United States, 26 states have enacted some form of restriction on the drugs, with 18 having imposed complete bans as of mid 2024.

Australia has been late to respond to the mounting scandal, despite calls from experts in the field.

In June, the National Association of Practicing Psychiatrists (NAPP) urged the Albanese Government to launch an Australian equivalent of the Cass Review amid concerns the medications in view could be causing serious harm to young people.

At the time, a spokeswoman for Health Minister Mark Butler called the Cass review a “significant report in an area where best practice and research is continuing to emerge,” according to The Australian, but stopped short of making any promises.

“Everyone, including the states and territories who are responsible for these services in Australia, will take the time to consider this review which has just been released,” the spokeswoman added.

On the final sitting day of the year, the Albanese Government guillotined debate in the Senate to pass its under-18 social media ban, arguing Australian children deserve protection from online harms.

In the wake of the UK gender medication ban, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to respond to calls to protect children from the real-world harms caused by chemical castration drugs.

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