The Queensland government faces serious allegations of privacy violations after confidential information about a transgender teenager was accidentally disclosed to a stranger, while multiple parents report being asked to provide extensive medical details about their children.
Government Error Exposes Family's Private Information
A mother known as Louise has revealed that the Queensland Health Department mistakenly emailed her personal information, including her name, address and the fact she has a transgender child, to another parent in May. The department later apologised for the error, but Louise described feeling "sick and unsafe" as a result.
"My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any public space," Louise told Guardian Australia. "I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to supports."
Parents Face Intrusive Medical Information Requests
Four mothers seeking legal documentation from Health Minister Tim Nicholls were asked to provide detailed medical information about their children, including names, dates of birth and evidence supporting gender dysphoria diagnoses. The requests came as part of their applications for a "statement of reasons" explaining the government's controversial ban on puberty blockers.
The email seen by Guardian Australia asked parents to "confirm if your child is a patient of the Queensland Children's Gender Clinic so that we can verify the information provided with Children's Health Queensland." All four mothers described the request as an invasion of privacy.
Legal Challenge and Political Fallout
The controversy emerges amid ongoing legal battles over Queensland's ban on puberty blockers for transgender patients. Last month, Health Minister Tim Nicholls issued a new order banning the prescriptions just hours after the state's supreme court ruled the government's first attempt was unlawful.
The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her initial challenge, is considering a second lawsuit. President Ren Shike stated the decision affects approximately 500 Queensland children and their families, calling it "important to efficiently facilitate the provision of reasons so that children and their parents can understand the reasoning behind this decision."
One parent expressed deep concerns about the security of sensitive information, stating: "It's such intensely private stuff. You wouldn't disclose, for example, your HIV status to the minister's office. You'd be very reluctant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically."
The government maintains the ban will remain in place until a review into gender-affirming care is completed, but parents continue to fight for both medical access and privacy protections for their transgender children.
