Queensland Health Minister Reinstates Ban on Puberty Blockers for Adolescents
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls today issued a new directive banning public doctors from prescribing puberty blockers to adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria, just hours after a Supreme Court ruling overturned a previous pause on the practice.
The directive, effective immediately as of October 28, 2025, follows a Supreme Court decision earlier today where Justice Peter Callaghan found the initial pause – issued in January by Queensland Health director-general David Rosengren – was unlawful due to inadequate consultation. However, Justice Callaghan clarified the Minister had the authority to issue a new directive in the public interest. This decision impacts access to critical, and often life-changing, medical care for transgender youth in the state.
Mr. Nicholls stated he was “satisfied it is necessary in the public interest” to reinstate the pause, which applies to new public patients under the age of 18. He confirmed that patients already undergoing treatment will be exempt. “I have considered an appropriate human rights and compatibility assessment in this deliberation,” Nicholls said, adding the restriction will remain until the government reviews the findings of an independent review of stage one and stage two hormone therapies, due at the end of next month. For information on gender affirming care, resources are available at The World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
The mother of a transgender teen who successfully challenged the initial ban expressed disappointment, stating, “Within the space of a couple of hours, I’ve gone from telling the parents about the win and them being so excited to having to tell them that another ban has been issued.” Opposition Leader Steven Miles criticized the move as “dangerous” and based on “conservative ideology, not health advice,” pointing to a pattern of decisions overriding expert medical opinion. Further details on the initial ban and legal challenge are available.
Queensland Health officials have indicated the government will act on the outcomes of the independent review at the end of next month, determining the future of puberty blocker access for adolescents with gender dysphoria.
