South Australia is the latest state to debate a controversial bill to ban ‘conversion therapy’. 

The Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill was introduced to the South Australian parliament two weeks ago and is based on a false premise that conflates sexual orientation with sexual identities. It erases parental rights and is causing grave concerns for religious institutions. 

An analysis compiled by a religious think tank, obtained by The Australian, found the bill contained “weak protections” for parents, could prevent faith-based schools from teaching religious doctrine, and could criminalise faith leaders having more than one conversation about sexuality with a member of their congregation.

“The protections for parents only cover ‘parents discussing, or providing guidance …’ to their children on issues relevant to the bill. Parents do far more than merely discuss or provide guidance as they raise their children, including setting family rules and behavioural standards,” the analysis, compiled by the Freedom for Faith group, reads.

“The right of parents to raise their children consistent with their moral and religious beliefs should be respected.”

The same concerns from faith leaders were raised in NSW earlier this year when a near-identical bill was quickly ushered through state parliament.

No one is arguing for out-dated, cruel ‘conversion therapy treatments that are no longer practiced. 

The bill is redundant in that sense. 

The bill, like every other conversion therapy law around Australia, conflates sexual orientation and sexual identity. Orientation relies on biological reality whereas identity denies biological reality. 

It also imposes secular beliefs on Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other faiths, outlawing the teaching of certain religious beliefs. 

The Freedom For Faith analysis describes traditional conversion practices as “coercive and barbaric”, but says they are already banned under existing legislation.

“Many faiths have strong beliefs about the nature of gender and sexuality – beliefs that have been held consistently for thousands of years,” the analysis reads.

“All people, including those belonging to faith communities, have the right to hold these beliefs, teach them, exhort others to live by them, require members of faith communities and organisations to follow them, and support and encourage those who voluntarily do so.”

The bill is particularly concerning for parents and families.

The proposed legislation would empower the state’s Equal Opportunity Commission to “investigate the relationship between parent and child and issue binding orders to require ­activity against the will of the parent”.

Barring a few exceptional circumstances, the state is not a better parent than a child’s family. This law which is based on a false ideological premise does great harm to children and is based on lies and deception. No one can change their sex and no one should be punished by the state for adhering to truth and reality.