In short:
A Tasmanian Greens bill to ban conversion practices, which are attempts to suppress or convert a person's gender or sexual identity, is expected to be debated in parliament this year.
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which → ban → parliament
Liberal minister Felix Ellis says his party will allow a conscience vote on the issue, and that he'll be "voting no".
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he → say → issue
Meanwhile the Greens say the reasons he's given for not supporting the bill are "misleading".
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he → say → bill
Labor and several other crossbenchers have indicated support for the Greens' bill, meaning government support may not be needed for it to pass.
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it → indicate → bill
Tasmanian Liberal MPs will be allowed a conscience vote on a Greens' bill to ban conversion practices in the state, Police Minister Felix Ellis says.
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Ellis → allow → state
The bill, which would ban attempts to suppress or convert a person's gender or sexual identity, is expected to be debated in the state parliament this year.
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which → ban → parliament
Mr Ellis posted on social media this morning that the Liberals "will have a conscience vote" on the Greens' bill.
"And I'll be voting no," he said.
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he → post → bill
Mr Ellis said "young people distressed about their body deserve our love and care".
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people → say → love
"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.
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who → mean → guidance
"This bill denies that."
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bill → deny → that
He said 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".
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doctor → say → transition
Backbench Liberal MP Michael Ferguson also published a statement on Friday morning saying he would vote against the bill.
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he → publish → bill
He said he had "serious concerns" the bill would "control what Tasmanians can and can't say about sex, gender and transgender issues".
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Tasmanians → say → issues
Attorney-General Guy Barnett has also previously raised concerns about the bill.
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Barnett → raise → bill
Doctors, parents, prayer excepted
The Greens' bill includes a number of exceptions, including for medical professionals, parents, public debate and expressions through prayer.
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bill → except → prayer
Tasmanian Greens deputy leader Vica Bayley said Mr Ellis's statements were "misleading".
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statements → say → ?
"The Greens' bill seeks to end conversion practices.
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bill → seek → practices
These harmful and sometimes deadly practices are still occurring in Tasmania, and vulnerable people deserve protection," he said.
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he → occur → protection
"Our proposal to end conversion practices isn't radical.
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proposal → end → practices
It is directly in line with what other states have legislated.
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states → legislate → what
"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.
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that → aim → person
"This doesn't stop ordinary prayer, medical care, counselling or parenting.
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This → stop → prayer
"Our bill explicitly protects doctors providing health care in good faith and in accordance with professional standards."
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bill → protect → standards
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.
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bill → accord → exceptions
Conversion practices causing 'severe harm' in Tasmania, law institute says
The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute found in 2022 that "severe harm" had been caused by conversion practices.
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harm → cause → practices
It found the practices were still happening in Tasmania, and recommended the state follow the lead of most other Australian states by outlawing them.
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state → find → them
The state government had earlier committed to banning the practices.
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government → commit → practices
It developed at 2023 bill that was criticised for having "too many loopholes" and was not followed up.
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that → develop → loopholes
The Greens released their draft bill in June, saying it would make a "profound difference".
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it → release → difference
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has been contacted for comment.
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Rockliff → contact → comment
Mr Rockliff previously said if one of his MPs asked for a conscience vote, it would be granted.
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it → say → vote
Mr Rockliff, who supports banning conversion practices, has not said how he would vote on the Greens' bill.
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he → support → bill
"There are some concerns with the draft bill and we are yet to see a final version," Mr Rockliff said in August.
"
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Rockliff → be → August
I have always supported a ban on conversion therapy, but the legislation needs to be balanced to achieve that outcome.
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legislation → support → outcome
Labor and several other crossbenchers have indicated support for the Greens' bill, meaning government support may not be needed for it to pass.
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it → indicate → bill
Attempts to ban conversion practices nationwide and in Tasmania have also been opposed by the Australian Christian Lobby.
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Attempts → ban → Lobby
The Aporia