Shane Knuth, Member for Hill, says today’s settlement between Queensland Health and Dr Jillian Spencer marks a watershed moment and should spell the end of the failed gender affirmation model used on Queensland children.
Mr Knuth said Dr Spencer had been proven right after years of standing almost alone against what he described as an ideology that had overtaken clinical judgement.
“History belongs to those who stand against the tide because they know it’s the right thing to do,” Mr Knuth said.
“Dr Jillian Spencer is one of those people.”
“She sacrificed her career because she refused to abandon her first duty as a doctor, to protect vulnerable children.”
“While others followed ideology, Dr Spencer followed the evidence and her conscience.”
Mr Knuth said the Katter’s Australian Party stood beside Dr Spencer from day one when few others were prepared to do so.
“We stood with Dr Spencer because we believed Queensland children deserved better than a one-way affirmation model that too often shut down genuine clinical questioning.”
“Instead of listening to one of Queensland’s most experienced child psychiatrists, the system turned its back on her.”
“Rather than encourage open scientific debate, Queensland Health closed ranks around an activist model that should never have replaced independent medical judgement.”
Mr Knuth said today’s settlement was a turning point.
“Queensland Health may have settled this case, but it cannot erase what happened.”
“It cannot erase the fact that a respected clinician raised concerns about vulnerable children and paid a tremendous personal and professional price.”
“It also cannot erase the years of suffering endured by Dr Spencer and her family and it cannot erase the thousands of Queenslanders who knew something was wrong.”
Mr Knuth said Queensland should now permanently abandon the use of hormone therapy for children.
“The temporary pause is not enough.”
“If the Government truly believes children deserve the safest possible care, then make the ban permanent.”
“Children deserve time, comprehensive psychological assessment and careful, independent medical care.”
“They do not deserve irreversible medical pathways before every other avenue has been thoroughly explored.”
Mr Knuth said the findings of the Cass Review and international changes to youth gender medicine showed Queensland must adopt a more cautious, evidence-based approach.
“This should never have been about politics or ideology.”
“It should always have been about protecting children first.”
Mr Knuth thanked the more than 8,000 Queenslanders who signed the KAP petition supporting Dr Spencer.
“To every Queenslander who stood with Dr Spencer when it was unpopular to do so, I thank you, because you stood up for children and common sense.”
Mr Knuth said the Government must now finish the job.
“I am calling on the Health Minister to immediately make the current pause on hormone therapy for Queensland children permanent.”
“The era of woke ideology must end and the era of evidence-based medicine must begin.”
“The greatest apology Queensland can give Dr Spencer is to ensure no doctor is ever punished again for putting the welfare of children before political fashion or woke ideology.”