Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-04-10 Daily Xml

Contents

Conversion Therapy

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a question to the Attorney-General regarding conversion therapy.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: In an article from February, when the Attorney-General was asked to respond about the Labor Party's promise on this, he said:

Labor remains committed to ensuring this practice does not occur in South Australia and is working to deliver on another election promise.

More recently, the Premier was quoted as saying that 'he thought some work had been looked at in the Attorney-General's Department'. My questions to the Attorney-General therefore are:

1. Can he advise whether there is a draft bill in relation to this election commitment?

2. Can he confirm that the Premier's comments were accurate?

3. When will a bill be tabled in this parliament?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for her question. She has made some commentary and given some quotes, which I suspect largely are accurate. Certainly, conversion practices are something we are looking at as a government and the best way to stop the harmful effects they entail. It is work that is ongoing. The honourable member pointed out that the Premier had commented that the Attorney-General's Department is continuing that work, particularly looking at what other jurisdictions have done and where they are at, and I can confirm that work will continue.