Thursday, 1 August 2024

 Moira DEEMING (Western Metropolitan) (12:28): (602) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Health. The Minister for Health has assured me multiple times, and in all caps, even when I did not ask, that transgender affirmation surgeries are not performed on patients at the Royal Children’s Hospital. My question is: from exactly what age does the Royal Children’s Hospital begin referring patients to other clinics to be assessed for transgender affirmation surgeries?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:28): I will refer the member’s question to the Minister for Health.

 Moira DEEMING (Western Metropolitan) (12:28): The Minister for Health has also assured me multiple times, even when I did not ask, that transgender affirmation surgeries are life-saving, medically necessary interventions and that they are in line with the world’s best practice for treating gender dysphoria. My supplementary question is: if, as the minister assures me, these transgender affirmation surgeries are legal and ethical in every aspect, why is it then that this government has failed to ensure that Royal Children’s Hospital patients can access these supposedly life-saving surgeries onsite at the best paediatric hospital in this state?

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:29): I will refer the supplementary question to the Minister for Health.