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Poll Finds Most Tasmanians Opposed To Proposed Conversion Laws

by | Wed, Nov 9 2022

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Three quarters of Tasmanian voters are opposed to proposed conversion suppression laws in Tasmania.

That’s according to the Australian Christian Lobby’s Tasmania Director Christopher Brohier.

He reports statewide polling has found Liberal voters will abandon the state government in droves if it supports the proposal.

Mr. Brohier said more than half of those polled are less likely to vote for MPs who back it.

“Tasmanian MPs should be aware that 54.1% of Liberal voters, 57.2% of Labor voters, and even 41.2% of Greens voters would consider changing their vote if their local MP supports this proposal,” he warned.

“The poorly defined proposal attacks parental rights and potentially creates a ban on basic religious practices like prayer.  Under the proposal, any teaching by parents, schools or churches about the truths of biological sex or the teaching of biblical views on sexual attraction and the critical importance of one’s natal sex, can be met with criminal prosecution. The proposals in their current form do not protect parents or grandparents raising their families in accordance with their values,” Mr. Brohier added.

“Importantly, complaints about the teaching of these values can be lodged by anyone, even those not affected, opening the door for activists to harass and silence people of faith for simply sharing their sincere beliefs.”

“This is a wake-up call to Tasmanian MPs. They must stop trying to smuggle in laws that attack families, parents and people of faith and conscience.”

The Tasmania Law Reform Institute (TLRI) has made 16 recommendations for legislative changes.

It claimed they would not impact expressions of faith, or philosophical or personal views about sexual orientation or gender identity.

Tasmania’s Premier Jeremy Rockliff has previously said he had spoken with survivors of conversion practices and would seek to table legislation in State Parliament following community consultation.

Tasmania’s Catholic Church has indicated it is deeply concerned about the recommendations and is undertaking a detailed review of the TLRI report.

ACL Managing Director Martyn Iles has previously told Vision Radio that conversion is effectively non-existent these days and the agenda seems to be to target anyone who does not affirm homosexuality or transgenderism.

He believes such laws will be so wide reaching they could impact on church leaders who preach a sermon or Christians who pray for LGBT people even if requested.

“The place where it concerns me most is in the family home and the long arm of the law reaches into the home. We’re seeing children taken in by a transgender phenomenon in particular in a massive way and it’s spreading almost like an ideological contagion among young people,” Mr. Iles explained.