Gender services
Moira DEEMING (Western Metropolitan) (12:40): (1411) My question is for the Minister for Health. For years this government has authorised and indeed mandated unproven, unethical, harmful and irreversible medical and psychosocial interventions on gender-distressed children, often despite objections from doctors, parents and everyone else who has been concerned. For years the previous health ministers have dismissed my questions and hidden behind the fact that AusPATH standards align with WPATH standards. But WPATH has just admitted in a United States federal court that its own standards, which AusPATH relies on, are actually expressions of opinion in a field of medical uncertainty and that they will not be held liable for them as medical advice. So my question is: will you halt these irreversible treatments on children?
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:41): I thank Mrs Deeming for her question. I know that this is a question that has been asked of previous health ministers on a number of occasions, and I think you will find that my views on these matters are consistent with the previous health ministers’ replies, and that is that in Victoria equality is not negotiable. We are absolutely committed to making sure that we are providing care that is appropriate and based on clinical advice. I take very seriously the consequences of not providing that kind of gender-affirming care. Of course when it comes to children, it is more important than ever to ensure that those clinicians who work in this area are the ones that are driving the models of care, and that is why we will continue to support their work. I certainly know that our Victorian health services have led the way in developing best practice gender-affirming care that is age appropriate. I am certainly looking forward to reaching out to those programs and ensuring that they understand that the Victorian government will continue to support their evidence-based work.
Moira DEEMING (Western Metropolitan) (12:42): Well, that is very interesting, because your predecessor was very happy to hear that these interventions are already under a national review in Australia, but still she would not halt them either. Major medical insurers have withdrawn coverage for any and all transgender interventions on minors. I would like to know if the minister will table what the level and cost of insuring these practices are in our youth gender clinics in Victoria – so Monash and Royal Children’s Hospital.
Ingrid Stitt: Sorry, I could not hear the end of that.
Moira DEEMING: Many private insurers when it comes to trans-affirming care for minors have withdrawn any type of insurance coverage. I have asked before about how our doctors are covered in the gender clinics in Victoria. Apparently the work that they do inside the gender clinics is covered by the Victorian government. What I am asking is: I would like to know what the annual cost is and what the level of insurance is that we have that covers those gender affirmation interventions on minors.
Moira Deeming: On a point of order, President, I was specifically asking about insurance, the level of cover and the cost of the cover for insurance.