Australian medical body denies claim it will run inquiry into treatment of trans kids
Gay Pride march in Melbourne, 2010. (Scott Barbour/Getty)
The professional body for doctors in Australia has firmly rejected a claim by a News Corp paper that it will run an inquiry into the medical treatment of trans kids.
The Australian published an article on August 17 that said the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) had been commissioned by health minister Greg Hunt to conduct an inquiry into the “safety and ethics” of the medical treatment of trans kids.
The Australian reported that the RACP had“agreed to do the inquiry” after being asked by Hunt. The RACP has rejected this claim, according to the Guardian Australia.
Hunt had received complaints from two vocal opponents of trans healthcare – psychology professor Dianna Kenny and the former deputy president of the Christian Democratic Party, John Whitehall.
In Hunt’s August 16 letter to the RACP, he said, “I am writing to formally request that the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, as the relevant expert clinical body, urgently consider and advise on the clinical best practice for the treatment of gender dysphoria in children and adolescents.
“It is important that we have a nationally consistent standard of care that is evidence based and with appropriate safeguards to protect the interests of the patient.”
The RACP said on August 20 that it is “primarily an educational institution and does not conduct inquiries”.
It added that it is strongly supportive of people experiencing gender dysphoria and noted that Australia has a standard of care and treatment guidelines for treating trans kids.
Australian paper criticised for trans kids coverage.
On August 19, Australia’s ABC Media Watch criticised The Australian for its focus on trans issues, which has ramped up recently following the creation of an ‘anti-trans’ section on its website.
The Australian announced the ‘gender issues’ section of the website on August 9, to widespread criticism from LGBT+ advocates.
Headlines in the section include “They’re castrating children”, “Transgender project ‘out of balance’”, “Sex not a matter of belief”, and “Corrupting kids’ thinking”.
Critics say the articles “demonise and spread misinformation about trans and gender-variant youth”, promoting fringe anti-trans extremists while campaigning against medical experts.
On August 12, Equality Australia said: “The Australian newspaper’s obsession with humiliating trans people is disgraceful. The rights and existence of trans people is not up for debate.”
