Amnesty International Australia has made a submission to the independent review of Stage 1 And Stage 2 hormone therapies in Queensland’s Public Paediatrics Gender Services.
In January 2025 the Crisafulli government announced it would suspend publicly funded Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone treatments for twelve months.
Amnesty considers the decision to suspend care to be incompatible with the Queensland government’s obligation to respect, protect and promote human rights. The suspension significantly infringes on the human rights of trans young people in Queensland, and is harming young people currently awaiting life-saving care.
Healthcare is a human right
Under international human rights standards, everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, without discrimination obecause of someone’s sexual orientation and gender identity.
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights has said that the governments should provide trans people with access to health care, including gender affirming procedures and treatments. in order to protect the legal recognition of gender identity.
The right of trans young people to access healthcare is also protected in Queensland’s Human Rights Act which provides that every person has the right to access health services without discrimination.
Accordingly, governments have an obligation to realise the right to healthcare for all and ensure healthcare is accessible.
In recent years governments around the world have scapegoated trans people to score political points but hormone treatments help trans young people live happier, healthier lives.
Young people’s voices should always be heard when making decisions about the healthcare, and decisions about their healthcare should be made with their doctors – not politicians.
Amnesty’s submission also calls on the Queensland government to reinstate Stage 1 And Stage 2 hormone therapies, and protect young people’s right to health, as soon as possible, rather than denying trans young people access to healthcare to score political points.
Everyone has the right to live a life free from discrimination. We are all entitled to self-determination, dignity and freedom, regardless of who we love or how we identify.
Take action and learn more about our LGBTQIA+ rights campaign.
