Minns changes tack on gay conversion after backlash over delay

The Minns government has performed an abrupt about-face on its plans for a bill banning gay conversion in the state, confirming it will introduce a bill to outlaw the practice into parliament this year, following backlash from LGBTQ groups who were concerned Labor was delaying the legislation.

The Herald revealed on Wednesday that the Australian Christian Lobby had told members last week that Labor’s promised ban on gay conversion had “been put on pause” after lobbying from the group.

Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has welcomed the NSW government’s about-face on plans to introduce a bill banning gay conversion therapy in the state. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

While the government denied it had paused the legalisation, saying it was still consulting on the wording of a bill, multiple sources confirmed it was unlikely to be introduced to parliament this year.

That prompted calls from LGBTQ groups for the government to support legislation already introduced by independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich. The government has declined to offer to support that bill, which is based on similar laws passed in Victoria in 2021.

But following the Herald’s report, the government has changed tack. A spokesperson for the premier confirmed the change, saying on Thursday that while the bill may not be voted on before the end of 2023, legislation would be brought before the end of the year.

“The aim of this policy is simply to protect people from harmful and damaging practices, so it is important that we get this landmark legislation right,” they said.

The change of heart came after the heads of three peak gay conversion survivor groups wrote to NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley urging the government to support Greenwich’s bill, saying it “strikes the right balance and is sensitive to the needs of all affected stakeholders”.

“The focus of the bill is to protect LGBTQ people from harmful attempts to change who they are and who they love in a way that keeps communities of faith together and allows them to practice their doctrine. The bill takes the least punitive approach to prevent conflict between parties,” the letter stated.

The NSW government has not explained why it will not support Greenwich’s legislation, but Victoria’s ban on gay conversion therapy sparked a fierce pushback from conservative groups when it passed in 2021 and some senior Labor sources indicated their bill was unlikely to go as far.

Greenwich – who on Wednesday joined the calls for the government to support his bill in light of the delay – welcomed the change.

“Important social reforms like this should ideally be government legislation, and I look forward to working with the government to ensure it is as consistent as possible with my bill and passed as soon as possible,” he said.

Equality Australia chief executive Anna Brown welcomed the decision but said legislation must be “sufficiently robust”.

“Any scheme to end conversion practices will only be effective if it is inclusive of all practices that seek to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including health and religious settings, and include a civil scheme focused on stopping conversion practices before they cause harm,” she said.

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