SA bans conversion therapy

South Australia has become the latest Australian jurisdiction to ban conversion therapy, joining Victoria, Queensland, NSW and the ACT in introducing laws to combat these harmful practices. Sometimes referred to as “reparative”therapy, conversion therapy is the practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. At its most extreme, conversion therapy can include exorcism, physical violence and food deprivation.

InDaily reports that under South Australia’s new laws, anyone who practices conversion therapy and causes serious harm faces up to five years in jail. There are also penalties of jail and/or fines for anyone who tries to take someone interstate - or arrange for a person to be taken interstate - for a conversion practice.

However, according to Amnesty International, South Australia’s legislation banning conversion therapy doesn’t go far enough and is among the weakest in the world. Key concerns about the legislation include third parties being unable to bring complaints on behalf of survivors and the requirement that these practices must occur more than once before they can be addressed by the law.