What’s Wrong with Tasmania’s Conversion Practices Bill

Posted on October 8, 2026 
Filed under Culture wars, Opinion, Tasmania

Published at AP, the Australian Presbyterian online journal, Emeritus Professor Patrick Parkinson AM shares his concerns with the proposed Tasmanian bill –

“…The Bill is being proposed by people who believe that there is a serious problem in the Tasmanian community that can only be addressed by some of the most draconian legislation ever to be introduced into an Australian Parliament. However, the evidence that there are still conversion practices in Tasmania today is very weak. No-one is claiming that the old unethical conversion practices used decades ago by some health professionals are still being practised. No credible allegations have been made that people have been subjected to abusive therapies to change their gender identity.

When a law creates a lot of uncertainty, it has unintended consequences. This law will create a chilling effect on the provision of mental health treatment for vulnerable young Tasmanians. It will also cause difficulties and expense for businesses and for organisations that involve volunteers. The problems in this Bill are not minor and cannot be fixed by amendment at committee stage. They go to the very heart of what the Bill is trying to do. …”

– A long and important contribution.

Photo thanks to Anglican Media Sydney.