Tasmanian Liberal MPs will be allowed a conscience vote on a bill to ban conversion practices that attempt to suppress or convert a person’s gender or sexual identity. But some MPs’ “no” statements this week show they’re misinformed about the legislation, or just don’t understand it.
Tasmania was one of the first jurisdictions in the country to raise concerns about conversion practices in 2016.
Ten years on, the state still hasn’t banned attempts to change or suppress people’s sexual orientation or gender identity even though a majority of state politicians support a ban.
In July, the Tasmanian Greens drafted legislation to ban sexual and gender orientation conversion practices in the state – known as conversion therapy.
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The Tasmanian Liberals announced this week they would allow a conscience vote on a proposed bill.
“Liberal Party members are always able to express their own views,” said Premier Jeremy Rockliff. “That is one of the many strengths of our party. A free vote on this issue was agreed to at last night’s meeting [Thursday] of the PLP.”
Premier Rockliff has repeatedly said he supports banning conversion practices, “but the legislation needs to be balanced to achieve that outcome”.
He told ABC that if the Greens wanted broader consensus on the bill, “they will need to knock the rough edges off.”
Related content:
Liberals urged to meet with conversion survivors
According to Equality Tasmania spokesperson Rodney Croome, after fourteen drafts before a final bill, the Tasmanian Greens have put forward draft legislation that is “the most advanced legal thinking from Tasmania and around the nation”.
It is considered Tasmania’s best chance of any state to bring conversion practices to an end.
“It is important members who want to stop the harm caused by conversion practices are able to vote against that harm by voting for the bill currently before Parliament,” Croome said.
“We urge members who are against the bill, or undecided, to meet with conversion survivors so they are fully informed about the damage conversion inflicts and the sensible approach the current bill takes to ending that damage.”
Labor and other crossbenchers have indicated their support for the Greens’ bill.
Earlier this month, Tasmanian Deputy Premier Guy Barnett wrote to anti-trans group Women Speak Tasmania, saying the legislation could outlaw conversations between families or prayer.
A 2022 Tasmanian Law Reform Institute report found conversion practices were still occurring in Tasmania and identified harms including anxiety, depression and suicide. It recommended a ban.
Liberal MPs’ ‘no’ statements show they’re misinformed about the legislation
On Friday, Police Minister Felix Ellis and Liberal backbencher Michael Ferguson stated they would be voting “no” on the proposed legislation.
Ellis wrote on Facebook that “Young people distressed about their body deserve our love and care”.
“That care means honest, individual, evidence-based medical care from professionals who are free to use their best judgement and parents able to provide loving guidance.”
He said that a doctor, psychologist, counsellor or parent “could face the law for taking a careful, cautious approach with a distressed young person rather than pushing straight for a medical gender transition”.
Perhaps we could show Mr Ellis the national research by La Trobe University shows 1 in 20 young LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians have been through conversion practices, and survivors are 3 to 4 times more likely than other LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians to have PTSD and attempt suicide.
Tasmanian Greens deputy leader Vica Bayley highlighted how Mr Ellis was misinformed.
“The conversion practices this bill aims to stop are acts that intentionally try to change, suppress or eradicate the sexual identity or gender of a person,” Bayley said.
“This doesn’t stop ordinary prayer, medical care, counselling or parenting. Our bill explicitly protects doctors providing health care in good faith and in accordance with professional standards.”
Backbench Liberal MP Michael Ferguson also published a statement saying he had “serious concerns” the bill would “control what Tasmanians can and can’t say about sex, gender and transgender issues”.
“They [the Greens] have made the definition of ‘conversion practices’ so broad that it intrudes on basic freedoms Tasmanians take for granted.”
Bill expected to be debated in parliament this year
Mr Croome highlighted that the current bill addresses concerns about religious freedom, parental rights and the medical treatment of young people with gender issues.
“The Bill follows other states in allowing prayer, preaching and parental guidance that aren’t conversion practices, and medical treatments that fall within existing guidelines,” he said in a statement. “There is no evidence the sky has fallen in other states, and it won’t fall in Tasmania.”
According to the Greens bill, conversion practice does not include:
- Health service provided by a health practitioner (which the practitioner, in good faith, considers appropriate for the person and which complies with all relevant legal, professional and ethical requirements).
- Public debate.
- Expression, including through prayer, of a belief or principle, including a religious belief or principle
- Parents discussing matters relating to sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual activity or religion with their children
Further exemptions are listed.
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When the Greens tabled the bill, Mr Croome warned that many critics of the bill want it watered down so it is less effective and are not serious about preventing conversion practices.
“In the coming weeks we will see a scare campaign against the bill aimed at weakening its effectiveness,” he said.
“The best argument against the dire predictions of the bill’s critics is that none of their predictions have come to pass in those states and territories that already ban conversion. Our response will be to do what we have always done – support conversion survivors to tell their stories about the harm conversion inflicts.”
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