Anti-gay ‘conversion’ practitioners could be prosecuted in Victoria
Image: Jill Hennessy.
Practitioners of anti-LGBTI ‘conversion therapy’ in Victoria could face prosecution as the state government has ordered an inquiry into the practice.
Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy has instructed the Health Complaints Commissioner to investigate, and has not ruled out tougher laws to target religious or health practitioners who attempt to change a person’s sexuality or trans status, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported.
The inquiry will look into practitioners including registered and unregistered counsellors, clinicians who ‘treat’ homosexuality, and anyone claiming to convert LGBTI people, as well as faith-based groups who attempt anti-gay conversion.
“We have zero tolerance for anyone purporting to ‘convert’ gay people through any medical or therapeutic means,” said Hennessy.
“Victorians who have been harmed through these rogue groups should contact the Commissioner immediately so these unlawful practices can be stopped and practitioners prosecuted.”
Conversion therapy has been widely condemned by bodies including the United Nations, the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian Medical Association.
A survivor’s petition calling on the federal government to outlaw the practice has gathered almost 40,000 signatures.
The Victorian Liberal Party recently drew criticism for attempting to debate a motion in support of conversion therapy, before it was shut down by the party’s state president.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt defended the motion as “freedom of speech” and “a different view”.
The crackdown on conversion therapy comes as the federal government is completing its review of ‘religious freedom’ in Australia.
Some religious groups are calling for exemptions to anti-discrimination law, and for gender and sexuality education to be banned from schools.
Australian Christian Lobby state director Dan Flynn said that “parents should always have the right to raise a child according to their beliefs—and we would always defend a parent’s right to seek counsel in raising their children”.
However, he said the organisation did not endorse “converting anyone’s gender or sexual orientation”.
Conversion therapy is quackery. The minimum qualification to be a “counsellor” (and open up a private practice for the paying public) is precisely fuck all. This is not just some as yet unproven attempt at a developed technique, it is agenda-driven insanity.
It is irresponsible for governments to allow it to happen in their jurisdiction. It must be made illegal.
And Greg Hunt who has defended this as just a bit of free speech is the worst Health minister in memory.