Outcome: The Bill was defeated in the Legislative Council on 2 September 2026 following decisive opposition from Labor and the Greens.
SA Parliament’s Legislative Council will debate One Nation’s Health Practitioner National Law (South Australia) (Childhood Gender Dysphoria) Amendment Bill that sought to to criminalise trans youth healthcare in South Australia.
Not only does the Bill seek to restrict trans young people’s access to vital care, it threatens doctors, nurses and health practitioners with up to 5 years jail time for providing evidence-based treatment.
What did the Bill propose?
Introduced by Hon. Cory Bernardi MLC, the Bill proposed 5 years imprisonment for registered health practitioners in South Australia who prescribe or administer puberty blockers, hormones and other relevant drugs to a person aged under 18 years for the purpose of treating gender dysphoria.
The proposed ban would apply to all registered health practitioners in South Australia, including those in private practice. The proposed ban does not apply to:
- trans and gender diverse young people currently accessing puberty blockers or hormones
- treatment of precocious puberty
- treatment for a variation of sex characteristics.
What is SARAA’s position?
SARAA urges all members of Parliament to reject this harmful and divisive Bill.
Gender affirming hormone therapy is widely recognised by major medical associations as a component of best-practice care for some transgender young people, provided alongside comprehensive psychological assessment and counseling (AMA, RANZCP).
Gender affirming hormone therapy can significantly improve mental health outcomes for transgender youth and is associated with increased body satisfation and improved general wellbeing and overall life satisfaction (AusPATH and Transcend Australia evidence brief).
A blanket ban on gender affirming hormone therapy carriest substantial risks and undermines young people’s rights to health, bodily autonomy, and nondiscrimination (AHRC).
Australia’s expert body in health and medical research, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) are currently developing national clinical guidelines on care for trans young people, expected in November 2026.
We urge members of Parliament to reject the Bill and leave healthcare decisions to young people, their families and medical experts.
How did members of Parliament vote?
8 voted FOR criminalising trans youth healthcare
Cory Bernardi MLC (One Nation)
Nicola Centofanti MLC (Liberal)
Laura Henderson MLC (Liberal)
Rebecca Hewett MLC (One Nation)
Sarah Game MLC (Family First)
Heidi Girolamo MLC (Liberal)
Dennis Hood MLC (Liberal)
Carlos Quaremba MLC (One Nation)
11 voted AGAINST criminalising trans youth healthcare
Emily Bourke MLC (Labor)
Mira El Dannawi MLC (Labor)
Hilton Gumbys MLC (Labor)
Justin Hanson MLC (Labor)
Ian Hunter MLC (Labor)
Kyam Maher MLC (Labor)
Tung Ngo MLC (Labor)
Clare Scriven MLC (Labor)
Melanie Selwood MLC (Labor)
Robert Simms MLC (Labor)
Russell Wortley MLC (Labor)