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Family First MLC Sarah Game has moved to establish a South Australian parliamentary inquiry into the medical treatment of children experiencing gender dysphoria, arguing Parliament can no longer ignore the international retreat from so-called “gender-affirming” medicine for minors.

If supported by the Legislative Council, the select committee would scrutinise assessment and treatment pathways, clinical standards, parental rights, medical interventions, detransitioning, long-term outcomes, and the transparency of publicly funded gender services.

It would be the first Australian parliamentary inquiry specifically established to scrutinise the evidence, safeguards and outcomes surrounding so-called gender-affirming treatment of children.

Fear of an Inquiry

Moving the motion in Parliament, Ms Game challenged opponents to explain why the issue should not be subjected to scrutiny.

“What is there to fear from an inquiry?”

“If the treatment being provided to South Australian children is safe and supported by robust evidence, let us examine that evidence,” Ms Game said.

“If our safeguards are working, let us demonstrate that. If parents are being properly informed and supported, let us hear from them. If the outcomes are good, let us see the data.”

Her motion comes as countries that once led the push towards medical gender transition for children have stepped back after examining the evidence.

England stopped the routine commissioning of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria following the landmark Cass Review, while Sweden and Finland have also adopted more cautious approaches. New Zealand has reviewed the evidence around puberty blockers, while Queensland has paused the commencement of puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones for new under-18 patients in its public system.

Ms Game told Parliament Australia should be prepared to subject its own practices to the same scrutiny.

“If Britain can reconsider, if Finland can reconsider, if Sweden can reconsider, if New Zealand can examine its evidence, and if Queensland can change course, why can’t South Australia hold an inquiry?”

The need for scrutiny has been sharpened by revelations that 22 South Australian children and adolescents aged between 11 and 18 received gender-related medical treatment without first receiving the psychiatric assessment required under SA Health’s own Statewide Gender Diversity Model of Care. The Women’s and Children’s Health Network subsequently apologised and conducted an internal review.

Put It to the Test

Ms Game said Parliament needed answers about how the safeguard was bypassed and what had been done to prevent it happening again.

The proposed inquiry would hear from SA Health, psychiatrists, psychologists, researchers, parents, clinicians on different sides of the debate and people who have detransitioned.

“Put the evidence before Parliament,” Ms Game said.

“Test it. Challenge it. And let the evidence lead us wherever it leads us.”

Ms Game said the inquiry was not about attacking young people experiencing gender dysphoria, but ensuring vulnerable children received compassionate care grounded in the strongest possible evidence.

“History will not condemn this place for asking too many questions about the medical treatment of children,” she said.

“But history may well condemn us if legitimate questions were placed before us and we refused to even ask them.”

Other nations have been willing to reconsider the medicalisation of gender-distressed children when the evidence demanded it. South Australia — and ultimately every Australian state — should be willing to do the same.

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Republished with thanks to Family First. Image via Facebook/Sarah Game.