A MALE prisoner who frightened a 71-year-old woman to death has been given the go-ahead to amend a discrimination complaint against the Queensland Government for refusing access to female hormone treatment while behind bars.

The Queensland Civil and Administration Tribunal has allowed Derek Sinden, who now calls himself Thalia Sinden, to amend a discrimination complaint because the State Government failed to conduct a full clinical investigation before refusing female hormone treatment.

Derek Lulu Sinden, 42, is serving a 10-year jail sentence for the manslaughter of Beryl Grace Brown after attacking her in her Woolloongabba home in Brisbane's inner-south in April 1999.

During Sinden's July 2005 Supreme Court trial it was revealed Saunders terrorised Mrs Brown - causing her to have a heart attack and fatal stroke.

Sinden pushed Mrs Brown face-down on a bed before turning her over, sitting on her chest and pushing a pillow into her face while demanding to know where she kept her money.

He then dragged her through the house in a search for money, until she scrambled to a window and screamed for help.

Sinden was charged and pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs Brown, but was later convicted on the lesser charge of manslaughter.

QCAT senior member Clare Endicott, in a just published three-page decision, said Sinden should be allowed to amend the complaint to give the tribunal the opportunity to ensure all relevant issues were considered before making a ruling.

Ms Endicott said because "Derek" identified himself as a "transgender female person", although born as a male, she would refer to Sinden as a female and "use female pronouns" throughout her judgment.

"(Sinden) has been a prisoner in custody in correctional institutions since 1999 ... (and) attempts to commence female hormone medication have been unsuccessful while in custody," she said.

"Her complaint that she has been unlawfully discriminated against by the State of Queensland on the basis of gender identity has been referred to QCAT for determination."

Ms Endicott said Sinden's original contention of alleged discrimination occurred when the Government refused Sinden approval to start female hormone treatment.

However, she said Sinden now claims an alternate allegation against the State Government that it did not conduct a "full clinical investigation" before refusing treatment.

The State Government has argued Sinden's amendment application had been made "at a very late stage of the proceedings" and with no explanation as to why the claim was not made earlier.

"I was not persuaded by that (State Government) argument," she said.

"Although proceedings have progressed through the initial stages in QCAT ... a date for hearing has not yet been set and is unlikely to be set until early 2012."

Ms Endicott said she was satisfied QCAT should exercise discretion and grant Sinden leave to amend her contention to include "a failure to investigate" allegation as part of her complaint.

"QCAT is required to deal with matters in a way that is accessible, fair and just," she said.

"It would be contrary to those statutory objects for QCAT to refuse (Sinden) leave ... to more accurately set out her case."