Rockliff voices support for ban on conversion practices as debate starts

Debate has begun in Tasmania's lower house on legislation banning conversion practices, with Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff calling it "many years in the making".

In 2022, the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute recommended banning conversion practices, which aim to change, suppress or eradicate people's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Research by La Trobe University has found one in 20 young queer Tasmanians have experienced them, and that they are association with a higher suicide risk.

Tasmania is among the last states to outlaw conversion practices.

A number of amendments to the bill are expected to be put forward during debate, from MPs both supporting and opposing the Greens bill.

In her second reading speech, Ms Woodruff 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.'"

In the lead up to the debate, conservative MPs and other faith-based groups have voiced concerns about the bill's "overreach", and affecting the rights of families to counsel young people.

Ms Woodruff said religious expression, including prayer, would not be affected, and there was a carve out for legitimate medical practitioners.

There are also exceptions in the bill for parents discussing gender and sexual orientation with their children.

According to the bill, a conversion practice does not include:

• A 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
• Participating in public debate
• An 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

The bill also lists other exceptions.

Ms Woodruff told the 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," she said.

Premier to vote in support of the bill

Premier Jeremy Rockliff will support the legislation, saying 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?"

However, he also told the chamber he wanted to see several parts of the bill amended, including strengthening religious protections in the bill and the appropriate handling of "vexatious" complaints.

He thanked those who had reached out to him, advocating for a ban.

"I've listened to every word and some words that enter your mind go a lot deeper than others,"

he said.

"Some words you will always recall, because behind those words is deep and raw emotion and the voice of someone that has been deeply hurt and traumatised."

The premier has granted the Liberals a conscience vote on the bill.

Moderates, including Bridget Archer and Roger Jaensch, are expected to vote for the bill.

Conservative members of the partyroom will vote against it, including Deputy Premier Guy Barnett, Treasurer Eric Abetz and Police Minister Felix Ellis.

Mr Barnett said "I stand 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 said.

He claimed that under the bill's definitions, a teacher could be investigated for answering questions from a student because there was no specific exclusion for this.

He said he would be moving amendments to specifically exclude some actions from the definition of a conversion practice.

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 Helen Burnet and Kristie Johnston are among those also expected to support it.