Debate has begun in Tasmania's lower house on legislation banning conversion practices, with Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirming he will support the bill while seeking amendments to strengthen religious protections.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff described the bill as "many years in the making" and paid tribute to those who had experienced conversion practices. "At the heart of this bill are all those people who suffered the despair, loneliness, shame and years of life lost from such conversion practices," she said. "I want to echo the voice of one survivor: 'We are OK and lovable just as we are.'"
Conversion practices aim to change, suppress or eradicate a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute recommended banning them in 2022, and research by La Trobe University has found that one in 20 young queer Tasmanians have experienced them, and that they are associated with a higher suicide risk. Tasmania is among the last states to outlaw the practices.
The bill's exceptions include health services provided in good faith by a health practitioner, participation in public debate, expressions of belief or principle including prayer, and parents discussing sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual activity or religion with their children. Ms Woodruff said religious expression would not be affected. She told parliament there was no way a person could consent to a conversion practice. "The reality is that the coercion people often experience is systemic, with multiple institutions convincing people that their self is broken, and unless they participate in conversion practices they won't fit in or be accepted."
A number of amendments are expected during the debate, from MPs both supporting and opposing the bill.
Mr Rockliff said the parliament "could not ignore" the evidence that conversion practices caused harm. "The base question we must ask ourselves today is this — if we accept that the harm from coercive and degrading conversion practices is real, how do we best prevent that happening in our community?" He wants changes to strengthen religious protections and to ensure "vexatious" complaints are handled appropriately, and has granted Liberal MPs a conscience vote. Moderates including Bridget Archer and Roger Jaensch are expected to vote for the bill, while conservative members including Deputy Premier Guy Barnett, Treasurer Eric Abetz and Police Minister Felix Ellis will vote against it.
Mr Barnett said he stood strongly against abusive and coercive practices but that the bill was fundamentally flawed due to its "vague" and "broad" definitions. "This bill is a clear example of legislation being introduced into this parliament of which it is very unclear which actions are to be considered unlawful." He argued that under the bill's definitions, a teacher could be investigated for answering a student's questions, and said he would move amendments to specifically exclude some actions.
Labor will vote for the bill, with leader Josh Willie saying the party did not need a conscience vote "because we share the view that conversion practices cause real and lasting harm". Independent MPs Peter George and Kristie Johnston will support it, and Helen Burnet is also expected to vote in favour.