Tasmania has moved a step closer to outlawing conversion practices, with the Greens’ Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill 2026 passing the state’s lower house with cross-party support. Advocates are calling it a “landmark day” for survivors and LGBTQ+ communities.
A Late-Night Win In The House Of Assembly
The bill passed its third reading in the House of Assembly on Thursday 29 October, after nearly 20 hours of debate, including a sitting that ran past 2am, reports ABC News.
It passed on the voices, meaning no formal vote was recorded, with the support of Labor, four of the seven independent MPs, and Liberals Premier Jeremy Rockliff, Bridget Archer and Roger Jaensch, who were given a conscience vote.
The bill defines conversion practices as attempts to change, suppress or eradicate a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the party was “so proud” the bill had passed, calling it “a result of years of campaigning from the LGBTIQA+ community”, according to Pulse Tasmania.
Amendments And Opposition
Rockliff told parliament he “could not ignore” the evidence that conversion practices cause harm, and worked with the Greens on amendments, Pulse Tasmania reports.
Those changes raise the threshold for investigations, remove retrospectivity, and require a five-year review to consider freedom of religion, parental rights and the rights of the child. A clause making employers criminally liable for offences by their staff was also removed.
Opponents included Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Guy Barnett, who called the bill “terribly, terribly flawed”, and Treasurer Eric Abetz. Both labelled the legislation “overreach”, according to ABC News.
The bill states that some things are not conversion practices, including health practitioners providing care they consider appropriate, religious prayer, and parents discussing sexuality, gender identity or religion with their children.
Next Stop: The Upper House
The bill now heads to the Legislative Council, which has eight independents among its 15 members, reports QNews.
“Cross-party support for the ban sends a strong message to the Upper House that this is an uncontroversial and much-needed reform,” said Equality Tasmania spokesperson Rodney Croome.
“Our approach to Upper House members will focus on the personal stories of conversion survivors, as we did with Lower House members,” he said.
La Trobe University research has found one in 20 young queer Tasmanians have experienced conversion practices, which are associated with a higher suicide risk. If the bill passes, Western Australia and the Northern Territory would be the only Australian jurisdictions where they remain legal.
What It Means For Aotearoa
Aotearoa has already been down this road. Parliament passed the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act 2022 by 112 votes to eight in February 2022, making it an offence to perform conversion practices on under-18s, or on anyone where they cause serious harm.
Tasmania’s debate is a reminder that these protections are hard-won, and that survivors’ voices are what move lawmakers. With the final vote now in the Upper House’s hands, rainbow communities on both sides of the Tasman will be watching closely.
