Queensland's Premier has defended the state government's pause on puberty blockers for new trans patients under 18 in the public health system. David Crisafulli says he believes the directive is legal while backing his Health Minister amid a pending decision in the courts.
00:05The Minister conducted himself in a very respectful way and he made a decision based on keeping children safe.
00:13In January, Tim Nichols, Director General, paused public doctors from providing puberty blockers to new adolescent patients with gender dysphoria.
00:22The mother of a trans teen launched court action to fight the directive, alleging it was unlawful.
00:28A court heard on Wednesday top public hospital chiefs were only consulted on the pause as it was being announced at a press conference in a meeting that lasted just 22 minutes.
00:39The Premier quizzed if he was confident the freeze was legal.
00:43Yes, and I make this point, there were some horrible allegations that were raised and our first responsibility is to keep kids safe.
00:53His Health Minister declining to weigh in.
00:56It would not be correct for me to make any comments now that the matter is currently under consideration by the court.
01:01The judge is expected to deliver his decision next week, while an independent review into the evidence of giving hormone therapies to children is due to be handed to the government next month.
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