Queensland government bans puberty blockers hours after Supreme Court overturn

The Queensland government has reimposed restrictions on puberty blockers for transgender people under 18, just hours after the Supreme Court overturned the initial ban.

Supreme Court Judge Peter Callaghan ruled earlier today that the government had failed to properly consult relevant officials before announcing the original directive in January. However, Health Minister Tim Nicholls promptly issued a new directive to reinstate the restriction pending a review.

The court heard that Director-General of Health Dr. David Rosengren consulted with hospital executives at the same time Nicholls held a press conference announcing the ban and subsequent review, as The Guardian reports.

In a statement to parliament, Nicholls said the court ruling focused on the process behind the ban, not its appropriateness. "I am satisfied it is appropriate and in the public interest that I issue a written ministerial direction," he stated, according to The Guardian. The new directive mirrors the provisions announced in January.

The initial decision to restrict puberty blocker prescriptions was part of a review into the safety of the hormone suppressants. These medications temporarily halt unwanted physical changes by suppressing sex hormones and are considered reversible. Some studies suggest they are "life-saving" for transgender youth.

Following the original announcement, a mother of a trans teenager sued the state, arguing the decision was an "improper exercise of power."

LGBTI Legal Service solicitor Matilda Alexander, representing the mother, said the ministry was undermining the rights of under-18s to access "safe and effective medical care, which is accessible in every other state and territory."