Gay ‘conversion therapy’ laws are a bad idea. South Australian Shadow Minister for Human Services Nat Cook recently announced that she is drafting legislation to outlaw ‘conversion therapy’ practices that are targeted at the LGBTQI community in SA.

This move follows the recent push in other States and Territories to do the same, with the ACT government recently announcing that it is looking to draft similar legislation and Queensland and Victoria having signalled their intention to do the same.

The introduction of these laws could have serious consequences for rights of self-determination, free speech and freedom of religion. The Human Rights Law Alliance has written a brief submission to the ACT Government strongly opposing the introduction of conversion therapy laws. You can read our submission here.