Page 2262 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020

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The definition of conversion practice is clear. It is a treatment or other practice that purports, or the purported purpose of which is, to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity. It is clear that normal conversations with a child, for example, about their sexuality or gender identity are not captured by this definition.

Once people read the legislation, most reasonable people reach exactly the same conclusion. It is only if you have a particular view, you are determined not to read the legislation and you are determined to have your views informed by a group outside of the ACT that you appear to have difficulty understanding that.

Inserting examples of scenarios that are not captured by the definition anyway will have unintended consequences and effects on the scope of the definition, effects which I am not sure the groups pushing for these amendments would be appreciative of.

The bill has been before this Assembly for the last fortnight. It has been in development and consideration—publicly expressed that it was coming—for years. The definition in the bill does not go near the matters that the Canberra Liberals are seeking to insert into the bill. For the avoidance of any further doubt, the government has inserted very similar language into the supplementary explanatory statement that I tabled a short while ago, to again address any possible misconception. So it is now in the explanatory statement. With the amendments that the Assembly has just supported, that conclusively draws a line under this issue.

So, for these reasons, we do not need to support the amendment Mr Coe put forward. It is covered in the explanatory statement and by the amendment that we have just passed.

Question put:

That the amendments be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 9		Noes 12
Miss C Burch	Mr Parton	Mr Barr	Mr Pettersson
Mr Coe	Mr Wall	Ms J Burch	Mr Ramsay
Mrs Dunne		Ms Cheyne	Mr Rattenbury
Mr Hanson		Ms Cody	Mr Steel
Mrs Kikkert		Mr Gentleman	Ms Stephen-Smith
Ms Lee		Ms Le Couteur
Mr Milligan		Ms Orr

Amendments negatived.

Clause 7, as amended, agreed to.

Remainder of bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

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