Kingmaker independent MP Alex Greenwich will make banning gay conversion therapy in NSW his priority in the next parliament and is warning Labor and the Coalition that his support in a minority government would be contingent on backing for his bill.
Greenwich has drafted the Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill 2023 to bring NSW in line with Victoria, Queensland and the ACT, where the highly damaging therapy is already outlawed.
Independent member for Sydney Alex Greenwich says NSW is lagging when it comes to banning gay conversion practices.Credit: James Brickwood
Conversion practices range from celibacy support groups aiming to overcome same-sex attraction and attempts to “pray away the gay”, to faith-based groups referring people to medical and psychological clinicians known to provide psychotherapy, pharmacological and aversion therapies.
The influential MP, who will be critical in the next parliament if Labor or the Coalition fail to secure enough seats to govern in their own right, is bracing for a significant backlash from church groups, who rallied against the Victorian government when it pursued the same reforms.
A key inclusion in Greenwich’s bill is a clause that allows churches to express a belief or religious principle as long as it is “not intended to change or suppress that person’s sexual orientation or gender identity”.
While some church leaders are still likely to oppose the bill, it has the backing of the Anglican Bishop of Newcastle Peter Stuart, who said “there is no place for conversion practices in NSW”.
Greenwich expects significant backlash from church groups to his bill to stop gay conversion therapy.Credit: Wolter Peeters
“The research consistently shows that conversion practices represent a critical risk to LGBTIQA+ people,” Stuart said. “These practices directly and indirectly tell people that they are not worthy and are not wanted as they are.
“Those who have experienced conversion practices speak of the damage done to them including persistent thoughts of ending their lives.”
Greenwich’s bill allows for investigation and potential referrals to the Health Care Complaints Commission, the Ombudsman or in the case of injury or harm, the NSW Police.
It also has extraterritorial powers to address the practice of parents sending children overseas for suppression or conversion practices.
Under Greenwich’s reforms, a person found guilty of attempting to suppress or change another person’s sexuality or gender identity faces between five and 10 years jail or significant fines if it can be proven their actions caused serious injury or harm.
NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said: “Conversion therapy is a dangerous and damaging practice. We will have more to say about this closer to the election.”
Premier Dominic Perrottet’s office was contacted for comment.
After Greenwich’s success in leading the charge to decriminalise abortion and legalise voluntary assisted dying, his next focus will be on equality in the LGBTQ community.
“Sydney WorldPride coinciding with the NSW state election provides us with the opportunity to advance LGBTQ rights in our state. While other state and territory governments are moving forward with reforms like prohibiting conversion practices, NSW is lagging behind,” Greenwich said.
“As a gay man, and the MP representing the largest LGBTQ community, I could not support a future minority government that allowed discrimination against my community to continue in law. This bill is important to me and others on the crossbench.”
Queensland became the first state to ban gay conversion therapy in August 2020 with legislation prohibiting the use of medical treatments, including electroshock, drug and hypnotherapies, to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity.
Victoria outlawed the practice in 2021. Under its reforms, anyone found trying to suppress or change another person’s sexuality or gender identity faces up to 10 years’ jail or fines of almost $10,000 if it can be proved beyond reasonable doubt that their actions caused serious injury.
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