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The Queensland government released private details about the parent of a transgender teenager – information she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a unknown individual.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the government was accused of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private medical information from guardians of trans youth who are considering a additional legal challenge to its disputed prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order banning the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court ruled the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Guardian Australia has spoken to several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to ban hormone treatments in the region. By law, the document must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Health Information

Each were required by the Queensland health department for details of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any other evidence which confirms your teen having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

The information were requested before the statement of reasons would be released.

The email, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your teen is a client of the youth gender service so that we can verify the data provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the email, which was dispatched last Friday.

Mothers Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent characterized the request as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother said she was reluctant to share the information because the authorities had mistakenly forwarded her data to a another individual.

“It seems like having to reveal your teen to obtain a reply; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Case of the Mother

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

In May, the department emailed a response meant for her to another parent, revealing her identity and location – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a government employee later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has seen an email from the agency confirming the error.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a consequence of the blunder.

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being exposed in any public space. She dislikes anyone to know that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to people I consider trustworthy and I trust completely.”

The parent was especially worried about the suggestion it would be “verified” by the hospital.

She said the demand was “threatening” and “feels threatening”.

Additional Parent Expresses Concerns

Another mother said she was not comfortable disclosing the medical history of her seven-year-old 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 way, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that data to any other organisation that requested it, especially in the context of the present environment,” she said.

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

Advocacy Group Weighing Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her challenge, was considering a new legal action, it said last week.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of explanations so that minors and their guardians can understand the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Stance on Ban

The government has repeatedly said the prohibition would stay enforced until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.