A serious question is emerging in Australia’s gender medicine debate: why are governments refusing to release basic data about children prescribed puberty blockers?

Recent reporting from The Australian suggests that at least 2,387 Australian children have received puberty blockers for gender dysphoria, yet most states and territories refuse to disclose the full scale of the practice.

Experts warn that this lack of transparency would not be acceptable for any other medical treatment.

Australia’s medicines regulator has reportedly been unable to fully assess the risk‑benefit profile of these drugs in gender dysphoria because comprehensive data about their use is not being collected.

In medicine, transparency is essential.

When treatments are given to children, particularly those that may have lifelong consequences, governments have a responsibility to ensure the highest standards of evidence and oversight.

Parents, doctors and the public deserve clear information about how many children are receiving these treatments and what the long‑term outcomes are.

Children deserve evidence‑based care, transparency and accountability in public health policy.