The Australian Christian Lobby today has called on the McGowan Government to ensure that its proposed LGBT conversion laws do not prevent doctors, psychologist and counsellors and faith groups from providing patient led, evidence based, proven therapy for people struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The story of yet another young Australian man falling victim to swift progression through gender affirmation therapy strikes at the heart of the current debate in Tasmania over the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute (TLRI) report which recommends the very treatment that has left Ollie Davies sterilized, and his partner devastated.

Reports of distraught parents facing prosecution under Victorian law for failing to agree to potentially harmful treatments for their children including chest-binding, hormone blockers and sex-change surgery should sound alarm bells for Tasmanian parents. The Tasmanian government is currently considering recommendations from the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute for similar ‘conversion therapy’ legislation.

The news that parents in Victoria are distraught and facing prosecutions because of the Victorian laws which prohibit proper counselling for gender confused children must cause the Tasmanian Government to reject the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute’s recommendations for similar laws in Tasmania.

The WA Equal Opportunity Commission used International Youth Day on 12 August to hold an event at the State Library entitled: Tackling gender identity discrimination against young people.

With 1000 families expected to join the medical negligence lawsuit against the recently shut-down UK Tavistock Gender Clinic, there are renewed calls for Tasmanian MPs to reject any so-called conversion therapy legislation that would mandate the now discredited affirmation therapy model of treating gender dysphoric children.

Following parents, patients and whistleblowers going public on the practice of experimental, non reversible, and damaging treatments for gender dysphoric children such as puberty blockers, cross sex hormones and body altering surgery, the UK National Health Service have shut down the 102 year old Tavistock clinic, until recently thought to be UK’s premier psychiatric clinic.

It was great to see over 100 people attend the meeting on Monday night in Ulverstone, Tasmania. This was the third information meeting held to discuss the Report released by the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute, titled Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conversion Practices. Over the last month, over 400 Tasmanians have attended meetings to find out more about the Implications of this Report and the legislation it proposes. It’s encouraging to see that so many people are wanting to stand up to express their opinions.

On Thursday 31 March the Northern Territory Parliament discussed the NT Gender Equality Plan 2022-2025. The Statement of Commitment which accompanied the Plan referred to the Women in Sport Committee, which “was established in 2017 to raise the profile of Northern Territory women in sport and promote gender equality in sport and recreation.”

The Northern Territory Government’s Gender Equality Plan 2022-2025 supports radical gender ideology and falls seriously short of protecting women and girls from discrimination.