The leader of a Christian political party in Australia has called for the government to stop “punishing” and “persecuting” a child psychiatrist who lost her job after stating concerns about puberty blockers for children at Queensland’s gender clinic.
Lyle Shelton, national director at Family First Party Australia, called the dire predicament experienced by Dr. Jillian Spencer “unbelievable.”
Spencer lost her job at the Queensland Children's Hospital in Australia in 2023 for raising concerns about the use of the gender-affirmative treatment model for children with gender dysphoria at the Queensland Children's Gender Service (QCGS) at the hospital. The psychiatrist reportedly spoke against the potential harms and lack of evidence related to prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.
She has mounted an ongoing legal challenge against her dismissal with a whistleblower claim hearing — date not published yet — at the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.
Shelton expressed outrage that the Liberal National Party, the government of Queensland, is “still punishing the whistleblower who dared to protect kids.”
“Dr Jillian Spencer — a respected child psychiatrist — raised concerns about children as young as 12 being rushed into puberty blockers,” said Shelton. “For speaking the truth, she was stood down, silenced and sacked.
“Now, under [Queensland] Premier David Crisafulli and Health Minister Tim Nicholls, her persecution continues. This is not justice. It’s un-Australian.”
Shelton called for Spencer to be reinstated with an apology without any need for a court trial to prove her innocence.
“Family First is calling on the LNP to do what Labor wouldn’t: stop punishing truth-tellers and start protecting children,” added Shelton. “She’s suffered enough. Truth and conscience must return to our health system.”
Family First remained “deeply disappointed” that the Queensland LNP followed the former Queensland Government Labor’s policy in allegedly upholding Labor’s policy of “punishing” Spencer, added a press release, calling the children psychiatrist brave for simply speaking up for the safety of children.
“Dr Spencer, a respected clinician with two decades of experience, raised legitimate concerns about children — some as young as 12 — being rushed into puberty blockers without proper, holistic assessment,” stated the Family First release.
“Instead of being heard, she was silenced, stood down, and ultimately sacked by Queensland Children’s Hospital.”
Spencer should not have to endure her upcoming trial in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to prove her innocence, according to Family First, adding that the psychiatrist had suffered enough.
“This is not just about one doctor — it’s about whether truth and conscience still have a place in Queensland’s health system. When clinicians are punished for raising red flags, every child is put at risk. Every parent loses confidence that their child will receive evidence-based care, not ideology-driven medicine.
“Dr Spencer’s courage should be celebrated, not crushed. The LNP Government must intervene to end this persecution and restore the right of health practitioners to blow the whistle on harmful practices.”
The Nurses’ Professional Association of Queensland (NPAQ) has also published its concerns about Spender’s dismissal.
On July 11, the NPAQ wrote a letter to Queensland Premier Crisafulli bluntly stating that Spencer had been bullied. The letter was jointly signed by Dr Duncan Syme, President, Australian Medical Professionals Society (AMPS) and Kara Thomas, President, Nurses Professional Association of Australia (NPAA) and Secretary, AMPS.
“We write to express our deep regret that your Health Minister, Tim Nicholls, has not only failed to reinstate suspended child psychiatrist Dr Jillian Spencer, but is further damaging her reputation by allowing her dismissal to go ahead without challenge."
Syme and Thomas accused the health minister of failing to direct Queensland Health to “cease all of the pointless actions” against Spencer in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission. They also singled out that the minister had failed to abolish the gender clinic and return it to the realm of regular child psychiatry.
“The bullying of Dr Spencer for calling out transgender activism at the Queensland Children’s Hospital has been described as a travesty of justice. And so it is.”
“We urge you not to ignore the growing public outcry, Mr Premier,” warned Syme and Thomas at the time, adding that they wrote on behalf of 24,000 nurses, doctors and teacher members and pledging a public and active campaign to see Spencer reinstated.
“[Spencer’s] ‘crime’ was to ask legitimate questions about the efficacy of the gender transition protocols and wanted to know what the data was and what the expert medical opinion was that supported the propagandising and sexualisation of children confused about their future sexuality and gender,” said Syme and Thomas.
“She questioned why the public children’s wards were inundated with activist gay and trans pride flags.
“Dr Spencer also asked where the data and support expert medical opinion was that demonstrated that these children would commit suicide if their gender selection was even questioned or that they would not be allowed to begin transition therapies and treatments?”
Syme and Thomas named four managers of Spencer —Craig Kennedy, Dom Tait, Dr Lynne McKinlay, and Dr Stephen Stathis—as responsible for suspending the psychiatrist without a proper opportunity for her to voice “her side of the story” until four months later.
“We believe the effect of the suspension on 2/5/2023 was to silence every medical professional, not just in the clinic, but in Queensland Health generally,” they added.
Syme and Thomas also pointed out that questions about the impartiality of the gender clinic had been asked by other professionals, such as Dr Catherine Llewellyn, a leading Queensland psychiatrist and a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
“Furthermore, we request the suspension of the four senior staff who orchestrated her removal and an open investigation into whether their actions were clinically justified or politically driven to silence dissent.”
Queensland Government paused puberty blockers and gender affirming hormones for children on Jan. 28, 2025, subject to an independent review.
