Thursday, 1 June 2023

 Moira DEEMING (Western Metropolitan) (15:45): (273) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health. Recently Australia’s MDA National insurance company decided to refuse medical practitioners insurance coverage for claims that arise in any way out of an assessment that a patient under the age of 18 years is suitable for gender transition, because of the high risk of claims arising from irreversible treatments provided to those who medically and surgically transition as children and adolescents, even if those activities were performed within a multidisciplinary team within a hospital. Also, the Family Court of Australia has now been presented with an in-depth research paper by prominent family law barrister Belle Lane cataloguing the lack of international evidence that could justify these procedures on minors. In light of these facts, will the government take responsibility and call for an urgent inquiry to review social, medical and surgical gender transition practices on minors in Victoria, including the government’s own indemnification risk and liability? Families and gender health care providers in the western suburbs need answers.