Sue Lines (President) Share this | Hansard source

I remind senators that yesterday after 6.30 pm a division was called on the motion moved by Senator Hanson proposing a reference to the Community Affairs References Committee. I understand it suits the convenience of the Senate for the deferred vote to be held now. The question is:

(1) That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 16 October 2023:

Treatment options for children and young people with gender dysphoria in Australia, with particular reference to:

(a) whether children are being rushed into gender reassignment treatment, as has been suggested by University of Queensland Law Professor Patrick Parkinson;

(b) whether psychiatrists, such as Dr Jillian Spencer, a senior staff specialist in the Queensland Children's Hospital's consultation liaison psychiatry team, who question the use of puberty blockers without an appropriate mental health assessment, are being silenced;

(c) whether children are being over-diagnosed with gender dysphoria without proper consultation or mental health assessment;

(d) whether Australia should follow the United Kingdom and many European countries in adopting a more cautious approach to the prescription of puberty blocking drugs, amid concerns the evidence base for their efficacy is lacking;

(e) whether the Commonwealth should take a greater oversight and regulatory role in the prescription of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children, following the admission from the Federal Government that it has no idea how widely the drugs are being prescribed off-label for gender dysphoria; and

(f) any other related matters.

(2) That any hearings held in relation to this inquiry must be held in camera.