Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 12 February 2025:

The failure of Australia to adopt evidence-based safeguards on the use of puberty blockers for gender dysphoric adolescents, aligning with international best practices, with particular reference to:

(a) the dangers posed by puberty blockers, as evidenced by poor-quality and inconclusive research on their safety and efficacy;

(b) the inadequacy of current Australian safeguards compared to more precautionary approaches adopted in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other nations;

(c) the over-reliance on experimental treatments instead of prioritising holistic, psychological and social interventions for young people experiencing gender dysphoria;

(d) the lack of regulation and oversight of off-label prescriptions of puberty blockers in Australia;

(e) the absence of long-term data on the physical, mental health and fertility impacts of these treatments;

(f) the Government's role in ensuring proper medical, ethical and legal standards are applied to protect vulnerable adolescents;

(g) the stifling of dissenting medical and scientific views in public and policy debates on gender-affirming treatments; and

(h) any other related matters.

This is a very important issue that's facing many Australians. And I ask: why? Here we go again. This is not my first attempt to bring this issue into the light, and it won't be my last. In fact, it's the fifth attempt for common sense. I'm going to go back at least a year and a half ago—it would have to be at least that—when we had parents and mothers come to this parliament and walk the halls. They spoke to everyone and said, 'We want an inquiry into puberty blockers, gender dysphoria and the hormone treatment.' They said they got a great response. But guess what? It's the fifth time now before this parliament because I haven't been able to get common sense out of the senators in this place to realise how important it is to have this inquiry.

It's led by the Albanese-Greens government. The Albanese government has become even more isolated in its denial of the harms caused by puberty blockers administered to children presenting with gender identity issues. Labor has become more isolated in their denial of the lack of clinical evidence supporting the safe use of these treatments. They have been isolated by our closest friends: the United Kingdom, the United States and, just last week, New Zealand. Other countries have seen the light on puberty blockers through studies conducted and the lack of evidence supporting their use.

Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Italy and even Turkiye—these countries have woken up. Here in Australia, the government is still asleep at the wheel. Here in Australia, the government has repeatedly denied an inquiry into the rapid increase in children attending gender clinics and how they are being treated. They claim their denial of an inquiry is to protect trans people and children with gender issues from harm. Can you believe that? From harm! But it's their denial of the truth which is causing more harm.

The truth was laid bare by the Cass review in the United Kingdom, the final report of which was published in April. This review was commissioned by the UK's National Health Service in 2020 in response to issues at the Tavistock gender clinic in London, especially a rapid, massive increase in the number of children being treated there. In 2011, 250 children sought treatment at the clinic. In 2021, 10 years later, the figure had risen to more than 5,000. The review's findings included the following:

It said, 'The rationale for early puberty suppression remains unclear, with weak evidence regarding the impact on gender dysphoria, mental or psychosocial health. The effect on cognitive and psychosexual development' of puberty suppression 'remains unknown'. It then said:

There are similarly rapid rises in the number of children being treated for gender dysphoria in other countries, including Australia. From 2014 to 2021, there was a tenfold increase in Australian children being treated at public gender clinics. In the same period, there was a hundredfold increase in Australian children being treated with puberty blockers—more than 2,000 children. There are no figures available for private gender clinics, so the true number is obviously much higher.

If it were almost any other condition requiring a form of medical treatment, there would be outrage. There would be demands for inquiries, commissions, reviews, legislation and funding for public awareness campaigns—but not for this issue. It's because Labor, the Greens, some Liberals and also Senator David Pocock and other crossbench independent senators subscribe to gender ideology.

They're part of an ideology that says all children with complex mental health and identity issues can solve their problems by changing their gender. They're as responsible as any extreme trans activist for the appalling way these children are being used to further an ideology the majority of Australians despise. Sound familiar? Labor and the Greens hold many positions directly opposed by the majority of Australians—record immigration, climate change nonsense, the Voice to Parliament. The list goes on and on. They don't permit debate or inquiry because they know their position is indefensible and they know their neglect is criminal and immoral. They just chant, 'Trans rights are human rights', as if this is all the response that is needed.

Children's rights are human rights too. They have a right to the best comprehensive holistic treatment for gender identity issues we can provide. That right is being denied to them. Anyone who speaks for the more comprehensive, holistic approach these children deserve—just ask Dr Jillian Spencer, a highly-qualified child psychologist now locked in a legal battle with the Queensland Children's Hospital. This hospital tried to force Dr Spencer to endorse its gender affirmation approach despite her serious misgivings about it. It tried to force her to comply with the gender ideology of Labor and the Greens and suspended her for expressing concerns about this politicised approach.

Labor and the Greens will do everything they can to protect this ideology from any scrutiny. But I warn them: their time is coming. Western society is pushing back. If developments in the United Kingdom haven't sounded the alarm, perhaps developments across the Tasman will. New Zealand's Ministry of Health has announced it will issue guidance to ensure children with gender issues receive the treatment they deserve instead of being automatically put on the sex change production line. Just like the Cass review, the ministry has concluded there is insufficient evidence supporting the use of puberty blockers and insufficient evidence about their long-term harms.

The evidence is piling up. Gender ideology ignores clinical evidence. Labor and the Greens are ignoring clinical evidence. Gender ideology is destroying the lives of these kids and their families. Labor, the Greens, some of the crossbench and some of the Liberals are destroying the lives of these kids and their families. That's why they'll likely vote against this inquiry. They don't want the truth of this ideology exposed to the Australian people.

I'm calling for, in my motion:

… Australia to adopt evidence-based safeguards on the use of puberty blockers for gender dysphoric adolescents, aligning with international best practices, with particular reference to:

(a) the dangers posed by puberty blockers, as evidenced by poor-quality and inconclusive research on their safety and efficacy—

What is wrong with that? Going on—

(b) the inadequacy of current Australian safeguards compared to more precautionary approaches adopted in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other nations;

(c) the over-reliance on experimental treatments instead of prioritising holistic, psychological and social interventions for young people experiencing gender dysphoria …

And it goes on.

What I'm asking for is basic common sense—to have an investigation into it, and to have parents and other organisations come forward and give their evidence to a Senate inquiry. This is not a piece of legislation; this is only an inquiry. This is what the people want. If you care about the children out there, why won't you have an inquiry? Why are you a bunch of gutless wonders who will not stand up for these children? I really don't get it. It's got nothing to do with being transgender. Let adults, as adults, make the decisions; let them go and get their puberty blockers. All this damage has been done. I've got to tell the people out there: puberty blockers are irreversible, as is the harm they're doing to these people. Their bone structure, everything—it just has an impact on their whole health.

These kids—I've heard from their parents—have their lives destroyed because of this, and you don't care. You don't care about these people at all. It blows my mind that you're supposed to be here—it's no skin off your nose to have the inquiry. You've got nothing to lose but everything to gain by showing that you're upfront and honest with the Australian people by giving them the opportunity to offer their evidence in this inquiry.

You can't tell me that every Labor senator over there agrees to not have an inquiry. What is wrong with you gutless wonders over there? You were voted in to represent the people of this nation—