Survivors of gay conversion therapy have shared their harrowing experiences of the damaging practice, while calling for bipartisan support to make the practice illegal in NSW.
On Wednesday, the NSW government introduced the Conversion Practices Ban Bill 2024 to parliament to outlaw the practice, fulfilling an election promise made by NSW Premier Chris Minns.
If passed, NSW will become the fourth jurisdiction to ban conversion therapy, following Victoria, Queensland and the ACT.
Survivor Tim Pocock said he had been subjected to the damaging practice at multiple points in his life, and called on all politicians in the NSW parliament to “stand up for victims and protect future generations”.
“(The bill is) desperately needed to safeguard the lives of oppressed people, most of whom are too young, or too entrenched in ideological systems to stand up for themselves, (and) who everyday face the threat of conversion practices that have long term mental health ramifications,” he said.
“I say this as someone who has experienced this first-hand, from my teenage years into my 20s and as recently as a few years ago in my 30s.”
Mr Pocock said he now wanted to be a “voice for the voiceless”.
“For the first time in our state’s history, we have the opportunity to once and for all, remove that threat from the lives of innocent people.”
Another survivor Jeremy Smith said his experience of conversion therapy as a teenager left him with “feelings of shame and self hatred”.
“It’s really important people understand that it’s still going on in NSW. It’s going on as I speak right now and it’s destroying lives,” he said.
While the bill will now be debated in parliament, Mr Minns said the government had undertaken “exhaustive” consultation with about 150 stakeholder groups, including victim survivors, and faith-based groups.
The legislation will make gay conversion therapy a criminal offence, with a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. A civil redress stream will also allow people to make complaints to the Anti-Discrimination NSW, which could progress to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) is conciliation and mediation fails.
Stop gap mechanisms have also been put in place to ensure prayer, sermons, religion teachings and conversations between parents and children are exempt from the bill.
“Now we’re in a position to introduce a bill that will make a major difference for those that may be subject to what … most people in this state have regarded very damaging practices,” said Mr Minns.
“And that is the idea that there’s something inherently wrong with a gay kid or a transgender kid in NSW. These practices are harmful, they’ll be ruled out as a result of this legislation, and we’re very hopeful that bill will pass the parliament.”
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, who is gay herself and an LGBTQ+ rights advocate, said the bill will save lives.
She also thanked victims survivors who contributed to the drafting of the bill.
“Every time they tell their story, they relive the terrible harm that they have suffered from, but they get up every day to make sure that it doesn’t happen to someone else,” she said.
“I want to particularly thank them for their bravery, and for speaking out when many, many others can’t.”
The bill has been welcomed by independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, and called on the debate of the bill to be “respectful and dignified”.
He said that as it stands, the Opposition Leader has yet to respond to his offers to meet with survivors of conversion practices.
“This legislation does not need to be divisive for the Coalition. We need leadership from the Coalition to ensure they understand who this reform is about,” he said.
“It’s about (making) sure these dangerous practices no longer cause hurt and trauma to members of my community.”
While Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has yet to say whether the Coalition would support the bill – despite former Liberal premier Dominic Perrottet offering his support prior to the 2023 state election.
Mr Speakman said they would be “examining it closely and in good faith”.
“I think there was a general understanding that conversion therapy will be coming on later this year. It’s been brought forward and we’ll act as quickly as we can in those circumstances,” he said.