On Thursday, the controversial
Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020 is due to be debated in the Legislative Council, where Daniel Andrews’s Labor government doesn’t have a majority. But with the strong support of the Greens and two independents, including influential Fiona Patten, the Bill will pass.
This is despite serious and publicly-expressed concerns by Christian churches, Muslim leaders, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the Australian Medical Association that the Bill is well-intentioned but far too broad and vague. The fear is that not only will health professionals, people of faith or even parents cannot question a person’s decisions about their sexuality or gender, but cannot discuss with, inform, counsel or otherwise advise them on their choices and risks without the fear of prosecution.
A man holds up a sign that reads “Vote against the change or suppression (conversion) bill” during a protest on 30 January 2021 against legislation to ban gay conversion therapy in Victoria, Australia. (YouTube/7NEWS Australia)
Protestors in Australia have gathered on the steps of Victoria’s parliament to rally against the government’s bill to ban conversion therapy.
The Victorian government introduced legislation to outlaw conversion therapy in November 2020. The bill, approved by the lower house on 10 December, 2020, will impose fines of close to $10,000 or up to 10 years in jail. It now just needs to be passed in the council before it can become law.
Time for humility and a leadership change
February 2, 2021 10.00pm
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The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number.
COLLINGWOOD REPORT
Time for humility and a leadership change
It is deeply shameful that Australia has lost Heritier Lumumba. He represents the Australia we could have: a society where brave, intelligent, articulate deep thinkers with integrity are valued, regardless of their cultural identity.
It is deeply shameful that Eddie McGuire just can’t seem to say “sorry”. But unfortunately he represents the kind of leadership we have at the helm of most sporting, political and business institutions in this country: over-entitled, monocultural human anachronisms. Show some humility, Eddie. Just resign.
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A bill banning gay conversion therapy is all but guaranteed to pass Victorian parliament s upper house after three crossbench MPs indicated they will support it.
Reason Party MP Fiona Patten, Samantha Ratnam of the Greens and Andy Meddick from the Animal Justice Party confirmed on Tuesday they would back the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill in the Legislative Council.
The bill outlaws any therapy that attempts to change or suppress a person s sexual orientation or gender identity and empowers the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to investigate reports of conversion practices.
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For me, my vote on the conversion practice bill is personal
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By Andy Meddick
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