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Greens Announce Legislation to Ban Conversion Practices
Statement from Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader
On behalf of the Tasmanian Greens, I am deeply proud to release draft legislation to ban sexual and gender orientation conversion practices in Tasmania.
Tasmania has come such a long way in protecting the rights of LGBTIQA+ people since homosexuality was finally decriminalised in 1997. However, there is still more important work to be done. One of the glaring major areas where reform is needed is that conversion practices remain legal.
Conversion practices are attempts to change, suppress, or eradicate people’s sexuality and gender identity. These practices are deeply problematic and harmful and can cause devastating long-term consequences for LGBTIQA+ people.
In 2022 the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute released a report detailing the current and ongoing issue of conversion practices in Tasmania and made recommendations for a ban on this conduct.
At the end of 2023 the Rockliff Government released legislation in this area. Unfortunately, that bill was profoundly flawed and as such was widely criticised by advocates, survivors, and many MPs across the Parliament.
At the 2024 state election the Greens made a commitment to Tasmanians that if the government did not progress appropriate legislation to ban conversion practices, we would work on this issue ourselves. Across the past two years we have worked with legal experts, LGBTIQA+ advocates, and people with lived experience to develop our own bill.
After a comprehensive and detailed process working with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel through thirteen previous drafts, we are now proud to present legislation to the Tasmanian community. We are inviting people to have their say on the bill to ensure it is as robust and widely supported as possible.
The priority of this bill is to stop conversion practices and the harm they cause from happening in the first place by establishing a prevention framework overseen by the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. However, we recognise this alone isn’t enough. Like in other areas of law, there needs to be consequences for people who disregard the rules and who cause harm to others. As such, the legislation creates a range of criminal offences relating to the actions of undertaking and promoting conversion practices.
Given the proud record of advocacy from both Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Opposition Leader Josh Willie, and the significant number of champions for equality across both houses of Parliament, we are hopeful this legislation can be a unifying moment and a powerful demonstration of support for LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians. However, we are not taking for granted that it will pass and will be engaging closely with MPs as we seek to progress the bill.
It’s well past time for Tasmania to join mainland states in finally banning conversion practices. This is an essential step in continuing to make Tasmania a safer, kinder, fairer and more inclusive place for all people.
We look forward to hearing perspectives from the community, stakeholders, and other MPs on this important legislation, and are committed to working collaboratively to progress it through the Parliament.
The Draft Bill, the Explainer and Submission page can be found on the Draft Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill 2026 website
Statement from Ella Haddad MP, Shadow Attorney General and Shadow Minister for Equality
Labor welcomes move to ban conversion practices
Tasmanian Labor welcomes the Greens’ release of a draft bill to ban conversion practices in Tasmania.
Following the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute recommending a ban on conversion practices in May 2022, Premier Rockliff promised to act.
Unfortunately, like so many of the Premier’s promises the conversion ban has gone nowhere.
It’s difficult to believe the rising conservative element of the Tasmanian Liberals hasn’t played a role in the Premier’s go-slow, and with One Nation circling it will be telling to see how the Liberals react.
All jurisdictions in Australia either have banned conversion practices or are committed to it and Tasmania risks being the only jurisdiction that allows conversion.
Without a legislated ban, Tasmania runs the risk of becoming a “safe haven” for these damaging, harmful practices, putting Tasmanians at extended risk.
Sadly, conversion practices still happen in Tasmania. They inflict enormous, lifelong harm to people who are subjected to them.
Tasmanian Labor recognises the serious harm conversion practices still do in Tasmania, has long supported a ban and looks forward to this Bill progressing to the Parliament.
Statement from Rodney Croome, Equality Tasmania
- Draft law against conversion practices welcomed
- Ban will improve mental health
- Tasmania falling behind other states
- Bill combines best from TLRI recommendations and other states
Equality Tasmania has welcomed a Tasmanian Greens’ bill to prohibit conversion practices that was unveiled for consultation today.
The LGBTIQA+ advocacy group says the reform will improve mental health outcomes, and warned Tasmania risks being the last state to act if the ban is not passed soon.
Conversion practices are attempts to change, suppress or eliminate an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,
“Conversion practices are cruel and futile quackery that inflict deep damage.”
“National and Tasmanian research shows one in twenty LGBTIQA+ young people have been through conversion practices and they are three to four times more likely to have PTSD and attempt suicide than other LGBTIQA+ young people who already have elevated levels of mental health risk.”
“This is why conversion practices are condemned by all reputable health organisations in Tasmania and nationally”
“Although we have been calling for reform since 2016, Tasmania has now fallen behind other states and risks becoming a haven for conversion practices unless we act quickly.”
“We have worked closely with the Greens on this bill and believe it is the nation’s most comprehensive and effective conversion legislation.”
“The bill builds on the recommendations of the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute and draws on best practice from other states to create the nation’s most comprehensive and effective legislation.”
“We urge interested parties to submit their views on the bill during the consultation period ahead of parliamentary debate later this year.”
Conversion prohibitions have been passed in Victoria, the ACT, NSW, Queensland, South Australia, with only Tasmania, WA and NT remaining.
The bill, which has been through fourteen drafts, draws substantially from the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute’s recommendations which had the support of Premier Jeremy Rockliff when released in May 2022.
The bill also draws on the subsequent experience in other states by allocating education and prevention to a single government authority, the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, and by having clearly defined exemptions to eliminate confusion.
Consultation on the Tasmanian Greens’ bill, unveiled today by Greens’ leader, Rosalie Woodruff, will continue until July 31st.
ET-Conversion-FAQs-July-2026 Conversion Practices – Bill Explainer (from Equality Tasmania)
More information can be found on Equality Tasmania’s campaign page
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