News

The Australian Capital Territory government will not allow the public to personally raise concerns about so-called “gay conversion” therapy, citing concern about corona virus transmission, in a move that has angered FamilyVoice Australia.

Last year the ACT Chief Minister Andrew Bar promised to punish anyone seeking to help people wishing to turn away from same-sex attraction. Mr Bar is Australia’s first openly LGBTI governmental leader.

According to The Australian newspaper (3 July 2020) the ACT government says “changing a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression has the potential to cause harm”.

This drew a sharp response from FamilyVoice Australia National Director Peter Downie:

“People seeking help should make their own decision about accessing therapists or counsellors and don’t need governments restricting freedom of choice,” he said.

“The ACT government is not concerned about so-called harmful interventions but is blatantly pushing against biblical Christian ideals.

FamilyVoice Australia is currently calling for a full inquiry into the harms done to young people through government sponsored gender identity ambitions.

As noted by The Australian, Victoria’s Premier Dan Andrews promised Australia’s first “conversion therapy” ban at the 2019 Midsumma Pride March, but the government of Queensland tried to gazump him and took medical bodies by surprise with a rushed consultation during the 2019-20 summer holidays. However, the evidence and drafting for the Queensland bill were savaged, and it was withdrawn.

Peter Downie urged the ACT government to allow a public consultation as occurred in Queensland.

“If the ACT government will use common sense and facilitate consultation by video conference, the public may well raise similar concerns to those expressed in Queensland, that would undermine the government’s unhelpful agenda - or is that what the ACT fears?”