Busselton Pride Alliance dismayed by State Liberal leader Libby Mettam’s transgender children health policy

The Busselton Pride Alliance says it is dismayed by the WA Liberals’ new transgender healthcare policy, claiming Vasse MLA Libby Mettam has not consulted the community on the proposal. But the State Liberal leader has hit back, describing the claim as “unequivocally false”. Ms Mettam revealed on Monday the party would ban the use of puberty blockers, hormone treatments and gender transition surgery for children under 16 if it won next year’s State election. She said the Liberals would also conduct a review of the suitability of transition treatment for children, following the release of a four-year study by UK paediatrician Hilary Cass which recommended that treatment for minors be limited. The move has angered the Busselton Pride Alliance, with transgender spokesperson Elijah Stanlake saying it failed to understand differences between circumstances in the UK and Australia. “If Libby (Mettam) had actually spoken to local transgender people and families with transgender children she would know that the recommendations from the Cass Review are already in practice here,” he said. The alliance has claimed Australian clinics take a more holistic, multidisciplinary approach than those in the UK, with mental health services more closely integrated. Mr Stanlake said there were already significant hurdles to children in WA accessing puberty blockers and hormones, including multiple assessments by medical and psychological professionals, and potential court intervention where parents disagreed on treatment. “There is a legitimate fear in the LGBTI community that any political inquiry like the one being promoted by the Liberals will just become a platform for anti-trans hate and vitriol,” he said. “We invite (Ms Mettam) to come and listen to trans people and families with transgender children in her own electorate before creating a situation where they become political footballs to be kicked around in a culture war.” Ms Mettam hit back at the criticism, saying the one and only focus of the policy was to ensure medical treatments offered to WA children were safe and effective long-term. “Any attempt to politicise what should be a purely medical debate is disappointing, especially considering this is regarding the health of our children,” she said. “Claims that I have failed to speak with families with transgender children in the Vasse electorate before making my announcement are unequivocally false. It was a family from the Vasse electorate that first brought this issue to my attention.” Ms Mettam said she had received criticism for not naming the families and health professionals who had spoken to her confidentially about the issue. “I make no apology for this considering the hate and vitriol many face when speaking up about this issue,” she said.