Equality Tasmania has welcomed the Liberal Party’s decision to allow a conscience vote on the proposed conversion practices ban.
The announcement that Liberal MPs will be permitted to vote according to their conscience comes as one Liberal MP declares opposition to the bill. Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who supports banning conversion therapy practices, said MPs would be allowed to make up their own minds on the issue.
“Liberal Party members are always able to express their own views. That is one of the many strengths of our party,” Rockliff said.
“A free vote on this issue was agreed to at last night’s meeting of the PLP (Parliamentary Liberal Party).”
Equality Tasmania spokesperson Rodney Croome welcomed the decision.
“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.
“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.”
Croome said the current bill addresses concerns about religious freedom, parental rights and the medical treatment of young people experiencing gender-related issues.
“The bill follows other states in allowing prayer, preaching and parental guidance that are not conversion practices, as well as medical treatments that fall within existing guidelines.
“There is no evidence the sky has fallen in in other states and it won’t fall in in Tasmania.”
The advocacy group highlighted La Trobe University research showing that one in 20 young LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians had experienced conversion practices. According to the research, survivors were three to four times more likely than other LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians to experience PTSD and attempt suicide.
Several Tasmanian Liberal representatives have declared they will not support the bill. Police Minister Felix Ellis posted on social media that he would vote against it.
“Young people distressed about their body deserve our love and care,” he said.
“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.
“This bill denies that.”
Ellis said the bill would limit doctors, psychologists, counsellors and parents from providing advice to young people experiencing gender dysphoria. He said he believed the legislation could create a situation where people “could face the law for taking a careful, cautious approach with a distressed young person rather than pushing straight for a medical gender transition”.
Liberal backbencher Michael Ferguson has also voiced opposition to a conversion practices ban, saying the legislation could affect how Tasmanians discuss “sex, gender and transgender issues”.
Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce has also expressed opposition to the bill.
Tasmanian Greens deputy leader Vica Bayley told the ABC that Ellis’s statements were “misleading”.
“The Greens’ bill seeks to end conversion practices. These harmful and sometimes deadly practices are still occurring in Tasmania, and vulnerable people deserve protection,” he said.
“Our proposal to end conversion practices isn’t radical. It is directly in line with what other states have legislated.
“The conversion practices this bill aims to stop are acts that intentionally try to change, suppress or eradicate a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
“This doesn’t stop ordinary prayer, medical care, counselling or parenting.
“Our bill explicitly protects doctors providing healthcare in good faith and in accordance with professional standards.”
The bill is expected to be debated later this year.
