Family First uses Queensland case to push state policy change
Queensland Children’s Hospital has acknowledged that Dr Jillian Spencer raised legitimate concerns about the treatment of gender-distressed children, ending a years-long dispute involving the child psychiatrist.
As part of the settlement, the hospital accepted that her concerns were grounded in her expertise as an experienced child and adolescent psychiatrist.
Family First National Director Lyle Shelton welcomed the outcome and tied it to the party’s policy push in New South Wales and Victoria. Shelton is also Family First’s lead candidate for the NSW Legislative Council at the March election.
Shelton argued that Dr Spencer’s treatment should mark a turning point in Australia’s approach to so-called gender-affirming care for children.
“Dr Jillian Spencer has shown extraordinary courage in standing up for vulnerable children when it would have been far easier to remain silent,” Shelton said.
Queensland has already halted the prescribing of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for new child patients in its public health system. Shelton used that Queensland decision, along with the settlement, to press NSW to act.
He argued that the hospital’s acknowledgement reinforced Family First’s position that children should not be placed on a predetermined medical pathway.
Meanwhile, Shelton pointed to policy changes in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Finland. He said those countries had moved away from the routine medicalisation of gender-confused children because evidence of benefit was weak and risks were serious.
NSW Legislative Council plans
If elected to the NSW Legislative Council in March, Family First plans to introduce legislation to close child gender clinics in New South Wales and end the medicalisation of children experiencing gender confusion.
In Victoria, Family First candidates led by Jane Foreman plan to pursue the same policy if elected in the November poll.
Shelton argued that children need holistic care that examines mental health challenges, trauma, autism spectrum conditions and other contributing factors.
He said irreversible medical interventions can leave children sterilised, sexually dysfunctional and dependent on lifelong medical treatment.
Shelton also linked the case to whistleblower protections for doctors who raise patient safety concerns.
“No doctor should fear career destruction for questioning a contested medical practice in good faith,” Shelton said.
He added that scientific debate is essential to good medicine and argued that whistleblowers acting in patients’ interests deserve protection, not punishment.
Family First also congratulated Dr Spencer for her courage after the settlement with Queensland Children’s Hospital.
