Greens MP Michael Berkman says Premier David Crisafulli’s callousness is on full display following claims he “can’t recall” details of meetings with the Queensland Health Director-General, days before banning gender affirming care for young people in Queensland’s public health system.
Background
During Estimates Hearings this morning, Berkman noted that the relevant health directive was issued by the Director-General of Queensland Health, Dr Rosengren, five days after the Premier’s diary records a meeting with him about “portfolio matters”.
When asked whether the Premier discussed the proposed ban during that meeting, he prevaricated before finally claiming he “can’t recall”. The Premier then said that his Cabinet made the decision and he “accepts” that decision.
The Premier did not answer questions about what input or direction he provided in relation to the health directive’s contents.
Quotes attributable to Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman:
“The Premier just confirmed that his own cabinet overruled Queensland Health by directing it to ban gender affirming healthcare for adolescents in the public health system.
“How callous is this Premier if he seriously can’t remember the conversations that shattered hundreds of young trans Queenslanders’ lives by cutting off their access to healthcare?
“I’ve heard from parents and young people who are still dealing with the devastating fallout of being booted from life-saving healthcare, purely because of the LNP’s nonsensical anti-trans obsession. But for the Premier, it’s barely a blip.
“The LNP has inserted its political agenda into what should be a decision for patients and health professionals, and the Premier doesn’t even remember how it happened.
“The Premier blithely accepts his own cabinet’s decision to restrict Queensland families’ health choices, but refuses to accept the findings of last year’s independent expert review into the QCGS, which found it was providing safe, evidence-based care, and that there was no evidence of young people or their families being hurried or coerced into making medical decisions.
“If the Premier claims to care about kids’ safety, he should probably pay a little more attention to the decisions he’s making over their lives.”