The Queensland government faces serious allegations after accidentally releasing private information about a mother of a transgender teenager, in what she describes as an incident that could have publicly 'outed' her child.
Government's Privacy Breach and Demands for Medical Information
This revelation comes as the state government stands accused of "intimidation" and "an invasion of privacy" after demanding confidential medical details from parents of transgender children. These parents are considering a further legal challenge against the controversial ban on puberty blockers implemented by health minister Tim Nicholls.
Last month, Nicholls issued a new order prohibiting the prescription of puberty blockers for transgender patients, mere hours after the state's supreme court ruled the government's initial attempt unlawful. Guardian Australia has spoken with four mothers who approached Nicholls requesting a legal document called a statement of reasons, which formally explains why the government implemented the ban.
Parents Describe 'Terrifying' Experience
All four mothers received requests from the Queensland health department for extensive details about their children's medical history. The department asked for "your child's name, their date of birth and any other evidence which supports your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria" before releasing the statement of claim.
One parent, identified only as Louise for legal reasons, experienced a direct privacy breach when the department emailed her response to another parent in May, revealing her name, address, and the fact she has a transgender child to a complete stranger. The department later apologised for this error.
"My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any public space," Louise stated. "I respect that to my core. The only time I ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to supports."
Another mother, Sally, expressed deep concern about providing her seven-year-old non-binary child's medical information to government officials. "It's not my information, it's a seven-year-old's information," she explained. "To think that information could accidentally be disclosed one day could be deeply, deeply distressing to him."
Legal Challenges and Government Response
The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her initial challenge, is considering a second lawsuit. President Ren Shike emphasised that the decision affects approximately 500 Queensland children and their families, stating it was crucial to understand the reasoning behind a decision with such devastating impact on healthcare access.
The Queensland government has repeatedly defended the ban, saying it will remain in place until a review into gender-affirming care is completed. Neither Nicholls nor the Health Department responded to requests for comment regarding the privacy breach allegations and the demands for sensitive medical information.
All four mothers described the government's request for medical details as inappropriate and intimidating, with one parent noting it felt like having to "out" your child simply to receive a formal government response.
