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The Queensland government disclosed confidential information about the parent of a transgender teenager – information she says potentially exposed her teen – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation emerged as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential health records from parents of transgender children who are contemplating a additional legal challenge to its controversial ban on hormone blockers.

Recent Official Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive banning the prescription of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the state’s supreme court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Guardian Australia has spoken to four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to ban hormone treatments in the region. Legally, the paper must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

All four were asked by the health authorities for particulars of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their date of birth and any other evidence which confirms your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

The details were sought before the statement of reasons would be released.

The email, which has been reviewed by the media, also asked them to “please also confirm if your child is a client of the youth gender service so that we can verify the data submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the communication, which was sent last Friday.

Mothers Describe Request as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent characterized the request as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was reluctant to share the details because the state government had accidentally sent her information to a another individual.

“It seems like having to reveal your child to actually get a response; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Case of Louise*

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or expose her child, was one of several who asked for a statement of reasons both times.

In May, the department sent a reply meant for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and location – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a government employee later apologised over the phone; the Guardian has seen an email from the department admitting the mistake.

She said she felt “sick and unsafe” as a result of the error.

“My child is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any social setting. She dislikes anyone to know that she’s transgender,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever share is out of need for obtaining entry to services and only to people I consider trustworthy and I trust completely.”

Louise was particularly concerned about the suggestion it would be “confirmed” by the medical facility.

She said the demand was “threatening” and “seems coercive”.

Other Parent Voices Concerns

Sally* said she was unwilling revealing the medical history of her young gender-diverse child.

“It’s not my data, it’s a seven-year-old’s details,” she said.

“To imagine that that information could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any manner, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

She responded saying the agency had asked for an “extraordinary amount of information”.

“I would not share that information to any other organisation that asked for it, especially in the climate of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You would not reveal, for example, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to provide any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the parent in her case, was considering a new legal action, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of explanations so that children and their guardians can comprehend the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the ban would remain in place until a review into trans healthcare had been finished.