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

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was charged of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding confidential medical information from parents of trans youth who are contemplating a additional court case to its disputed prohibition on hormone blockers.

Recent Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order banning the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the high court determined the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has spoken to four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the authorities decided to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. Legally, the paper must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Health Information

Each were required by the Queensland health department for particulars of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any supporting documents which confirms your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

The details were requested before the statement of reasons would be provided.

The email, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also asked them to “please also confirm if your teen is a client of the youth gender service so that we can verify the information provided with the health service,” reads the communication, which was dispatched last Friday.

Mothers Label Request as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers described the request as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the information because the authorities had mistakenly sent her information to a different parent.

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

Situation of Louise*

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or “out” her teen, was one of several who requested a explanation on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the agency emailed a reply intended for her to someone else, revealing her name 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 obtained an message from the agency admitting the mistake.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any public space. She doesn’t like anyone to know that she’s trans,” the mother 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 services and exclusively to people I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

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

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

Additional Parent Expresses Concerns

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the medical history of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

“To imagine that that information could inadvertently be disclosed someday, in any way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

She wrote back saying the agency had asked for an “excessive level of detail”.

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

“It’s such intensely private information. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to submit any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Considering Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her case, was evaluating a second lawsuit, it said last week.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of reasons so that children and their guardians can comprehend the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Government Position on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the ban would stay enforced until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.