Historic Ban on LGBTQA+ Conversion Practices Passes in South Australia
Historic Ban on LGBTQA+ Conversion Practices Passes in South Australia
South Australia has passed landmark legislation banning conversion practices, a move celebrated by survivors across the state.
South Australia has just passed landmark legislation banning conversion practices, a move welcomed by LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups and survivors across the state. This change brings South Australia into line with the majority of other Australian states.
The bill, which passed the South Australian Parliament on Tuesday night with a vote of 13 to 8, criminalizes attempts to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia, lauded the bill's passage as a life-saving measure. "This new law confirms we are not broken, disordered, or in need of fixing," Brown stated. “The legislation is not perfect, but it’s an important step forward, and it will protect thousands of vulnerable South Australians into the future.”
The new law makes it a criminal offense to subject someone to conversion practices that cause serious mental or physical harm, with penalties for perpetrators facing up to five years in jail. Additionally, it is now illegal to take someone out of South Australia for conversion practices, with penalties including up to three years in jail or fines of up to $15,000.
“This law is for all the people who feel alone and unsafe right now and have been taught to question who they are,” Megan Barnes, a survivor of conversion practices, stated.
The law’s passage makes South Australia the latest Australian state to implement such a ban, following the lead of Victoria, the ACT, and New South Wales, with Queensland enforcing a ban on conversion practices within health settings. Western Australia and Tasmania have additionally committed to similar reforms.
The law provides avenues for survivors to seek redress through a civil pathway, allowing them to report conversion practices to the South Australian Commissioner for Equal Opportunity. However, amendments to outlaw single instances of conversion practices were not included, something Equality Australia and other advocacy groups have vowed to continue fighting for.