Queensland’s controversial ban on puberty blockers for transgender patients has been overturned by the supreme court.
On Tuesday, Justice Peter Callaghan ruled in favour of a challenge by the parent of a transgender child, judging that the directive establishing the ban was made improperly and is unlawful.
He ruled that health director-general David Rosengren failed to properly consult with the executives of the state’s hospitals and health services, as required under the state law.
Callaghan ruled none of the individuals consulted knew about the contents of the directive until the meeting. He ruled the meeting was “functionally irrelevant”, that the decision had already been made, and there were few changes only to the “syntax” of the document as a result of the consultation.
“Adjustments of this nature could not be thought to bear at all on the actual decision – already made – to suspend hormone treatment,” he said.
“The process of consultation required by … (the act) to be observed in the making of the decision was not observed”.
More details soon …
