Australian Government Vows Crack Down On Conversion Therapy

The Victorian government has vowed to crack down on so-called gay conversion therapists who claim to be able to ‘cure’ homosexuality.
The Australian state announced plans to introduce new legislation to parliament later this year that will create a Health Complaints Commissioner role, with the power to investigate or ban unregistered practitioners making unproven claims, according to local news reports.
Current legislation only allows for registered practitioners to be investigated, leaving those with dubious qualifications to practice without consequence.

‘We have zero tolerance for any person purporting to be able to ‘convert’ gay people through medical or therapeutic means,’ Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy said in a statement.

Any attempts to make people feel uncomfortable with their own sexuality is completely unacceptable.’

Many former ‘ex-gay’ ministries have been accused of subjecting participants to starvation, exorcism and brainwashing, News.com.au reports.
The Age said that news of the government’s plans come a week after The Sunday Age reported on the growing push behind the scenes to combat the ‘ex-gay movement’, which ‘essentially views homosexuality as a sin and remains an insidious part of evangelical church culture in Australia.’
It also said that it is not entirely known to what extent conversion therapy is still being used, either through religious organisations attempting to ‘pray away the gay’ or less formal structures.
As public scrutiny has increased over the years, conversion culture has since gone ‘underground’ with practitioners organizing   and linking up via support groups, conferences, websites and online resources.
Victorian Greens MP Sam Hibbins has called for a parliamentary inquiry into gay conversion counselling services.
‘It’s unacceptable that gay conversion therapy is still occurring today in Victoria,’ Hibbins said.
‘A parliamentary inquiry into gay conversion therapy would shine a light into the dark recesses of organisations where this practice is still occurring.’