Media Release

Wednesday September 2024

 

 

Just.Equal Australia has raised concerns about South Australia’s conversion prohibition bill, released yesterday, and called on the State Government to set a higher standard. 

 

The bill doesn’t allow third party reports about conversion practices and only allows a 12 month window period for complaints to be lodged. 

 

The bill also excludes single acts of conversion from its definition of conversion practices, a deviation from other state laws and from the recommendations of researchers. 

 

Just.Equal spokesperson, Brian Greig, said, 

 

"Third party reports are essential because survivors alone shouldn’t be burdened with the responsibility to end conversion practices. For children, people with intellectual disability and many others, third party reporting is the only realistic way that conversion bans can be effectively challenged." 

 

“A 12 month window for complaints is too short because it sometimes takes survivors years to come to terms with what they experienced, let alone be ready to make a complaint." 

 

"Just as we allow survivors of sexual abuse ample time to come forward, the same opportunity must exist for survivors of psychological abuse." 

 

"These gaps send a green light to proponents of conversion practices." 

 

The SA Government has made assurances that the concerns about reports and time limits can be rectified at a later time, but Mr Greig said there is no good reason for avoiding making the amendments before the bill passes.

 

"These details are too important not to be put in the bill now." 

 

“We urge the SA Government to set a high standard and not fall below the Victorian legislation which is Australia’s best.”

 

Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/praying-the-gay-away-nearly-killed-me-outlaw-lgbtqa-conversion-practices/u/32883950

 

For a copy of this statement on the web, click here