More than 100 doctors, academics, lawyers, politicians and so-called ‘detransitioners’ are calling for the Albanese government to pause the use of puberty blockers for children in Australia.

More than 100 doctors, academics, lawyers, politicians and so-called “detransitioners” are calling for the Albanese government to launch an immediate inquiry into youth gender medicine and to pause the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapies for children in Australia.
In a letter to Anthony Albanese, the group of signatories – which includes more than 40 doctors and child psychiatrists – warned that the growing use of gender transition procedures on children was a “potential public health disaster of generational significance” that warranted an independent, public investigation.
They accused Australian politicians and the medical community of ignoring and of even undermining the findings of international reviews – including the 2024 Cass Review in the United Kingdom – that have been critical of youth gender medicine practices and led to some countries introducing bans or restrictions.
Signatories include Charles Sturt University professor of public ethics Clive Hamilton, former prime minister Tony Abbott, suspended Queensland Health child psychiatrist Jillian Spencer, outspoken psychiatrist Andrew Amos and failed Liberal candidate Katherine Deves.
“Recent developments globally have exposed serious concerns about the ‘gender-affirming’ approach to treating gender-confused youth and there is now a bipartisan consensus in many countries that major changes to practice in this area are needed,’’ the letter sent to the Prime Minister late on Wednesday reads.
“Medical interventions including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries can cause irreversible harm, including physiological damage (bone density loss, infertility, sexual dysfunction), issues concerning brain development and social and relational difficulties.
“While lifelong impacts are yet to be fully understood, regret is real, and a growing number of detransitioners believe their gender distress masked other comorbidities, including autism, untreated sexual trauma, and discomfort with their sexuality.”
The call for a federal-led inquiry, with the co-operation of the state and territory governments, comes just days after the Queensland government ordered an immediate freeze on hormone therapy for new patients under 18.
It follows a preliminary investigation that found the Cairns Sexual Health Service treated 42 patients, aged between 12 and 18, outside of best practice guidelines.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to restrict gender transition procedures for people aged under 19.
“Across the country today, medical professionals are maiming and sterilising a growing number of impressionable children,” the order reads.
“This dangerous trend will be a stain on our nation’s history, and it must end.”
The letter to Mr Albanese, organised by the think-tank Women’s Forum Australia in conjunction with medical and legal professionals nationally, said the inquiry should involve an expert or panel of experts who were “independent from the practice of gender medicine”.
“Such an inquiry will need to consider how this was allowed to happen, the impact on the children and their families, and make recommendations as to how to protect other children from harm,’’ the letter reads.
Read the full letter below
“What the inquiry needs to do is to consider whether, in the light of the evidence, current ‘gender-affirming’ practices should continue, and, if so, to what extent.”
Detransitioner Mel Jefferies, 33, said she felt betrayed by the medical system that encouraged her to transition from female to male as an 18-year-old. She said doctors ignored her complex mental health issues and she now felt “trapped” in her body following her gender reversal seven years ago.
“I’m trying to recover from this medical catastrophe,” Ms Jefferies said.
“The people that are meant to help me at the moment are the same people that put me in this state.”
Former prime minister Tony Abbott said the “very small” proportion of people who suffered from gender dysphoria must be fully capable of making the serious decision to transition.
“People under 18 simply lack the maturity to make a decision that would change them irreparably and that they might well come to regret,” Mr Abbott told The Australian.
“If we don’t let them drink legally, buy cigarettes, vote, or drive a car, why on earth would we allow them to decide on what could amount to chemical sterilisation or surgical mutilation?
“For far too long people who should know better have pandered to something that’s wrong, verging on crazy.”
Dr Andrew Amos, an academic psychiatrist at James Cook University, said gender treatments had rapidly surpassed what the evidence supported, and there was not enough long-term research into the effects of hormone therapy to adequately assess efficacy.
“We don’t really know what has been done with these kids and what the outcome of those treatments have been,” Dr Amos said.
Source: The Australian