Attorney General Christian Porter has dismissed concerns that the religious discrimination legislation could be a pathway for protecting gay conversion therapy.
The Attorney General hit back at the suggestion put forward by the Victorian Labor government saying their concern showed they had a complete lack of understanding of the bill. Porter said the Andrews government were either inept or malicious.
The Victorian government has formally raised the concern in their submission to the federal government’s consultation on their proposed legislation. It comes as the Victorian government begins its own consultation period on outlawing the practice of conversion therapy.
The government’s bill has been criticised by human rights, LGBTI rights groups and religious bodies and conservative groups. The Attorney General is confident that only small changes will be needed to the legislation to get it through parliament.
OIP Staff