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The Queensland government disclosed confidential information about the parent of a transgender teenager – data she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding private medical information from parents of transgender children who are contemplating a further legal challenge to its controversial ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Official Order on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order banning the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the high court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Guardian Australia has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government decided to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. Legally, the paper must be supplied under the legal statute.

Requested Medical Details

All four were required by the Queensland health department for details of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their date of birth and any other evidence which supports your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

The information were sought before the explanation would be released.

The message, which has been seen by the Guardian, also instructed them to verify if your teen is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the data submitted with the health service,” states the communication, which was sent last Friday.

Parents Describe Request as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers characterized the demand as an invasion of privacy.

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

“It seems like having to ‘out’ your teen to actually get a response; like, it’s frightening,” she said.

Case of the Mother

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or “out” her child, was one of several who requested a statement of reasons both times.

Earlier, the department emailed a reply intended for her to another parent, disclosing her name and location – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a government employee later apologised over the phone; the media has seen an email from the agency confirming the error.

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

“My daughter is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any social setting. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my core as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever share is out of necessity for obtaining entry to services and only to people I consider incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

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

Additional Mother Expresses Concerns

Another mother said she was unwilling disclosing the medical history of her young non-binary child.

“It’s not my information, it’s a child’s details,” she said.

“To imagine that that information could accidentally be disclosed someday, in any manner, you know, even if that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

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

“I would not share that data to another entity that asked for it, especially in the context of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private stuff. You would not reveal, for instance, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to provide such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

The advocacy organization, which assisted the parent in her challenge, was evaluating a second lawsuit, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about hundreds of minors and their families and it was crucial to promptly enable the provision of explanations so that minors and their guardians can comprehend the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Ban

The government has consistently said the prohibition would remain in place until a examination into gender-affirming care had been finished.