The SA Greens are urging the Malinauskas Government to keep their election promise and ban conversion practices in South Australia.
South Australia is the only state yet to commit to banning conversion practices. Bans are already in place in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT, and the Tasmanian government released draft legislation to ban conversion practices in December 2023.
Prior to becoming Premier, Peter Malinauskas promised the South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance that he would ensure conversion practices would cease. However, no legislation has come before parliament.
The Greens are now urging the Government to take a more proactive approach to end this harmful practice.
Quote Attributable to Tammy Franks MLC:
‘Conversion practices are underpinned by ideologies that view LGBTIQA+ people as broken. These practices are damaging. They are not at all therapies. They are not therapeutic. The Premier has promised the people of South Australia he will keep all his election promises. It is time for him to do so’.
‘The LGBTIQA+ community and their allies are still deeply concerned about harmful and damaging conversion practices that are currently continuing legally in our state. A 2021 survey of over 600 LGBTIQA+ South Australians found that 85 per cent of respondents rated ending conversion practices as extremely important’
‘Research shows that survivors of conversion practices commonly experience PTSD symptoms related to religious trauma, difficulty forming relationships and severe mental health difficulties. It is time for South Australians to step up and protect all in our community from harm.'