Bob McCoskrie
National Director
Family First
The Government set a deadline date for submissions on the bill to ban “conversion therapy” of less than 4 weeks – the shortest time possible.
They basically don’t want to hear from you, are not actually interested in your view, and are hoping you’ll run out of time.
With the unfortunate announcement of a lockdown, you may now have some spare time to disappoint them.
Why should you make a submission?
Because this bill has the potential to significantly affect both families and the faith community in terms of pastoral care, prayer, and what you can teach.
KEY CONCERNS:
- Parents could be criminalised and liable to 3 (and possibly even 5) years imprisonment simply for affirming that their sons are boys and their daughters are girls!
A mother who encourages and helps her 12-year-old daughter to accept the body she was born with, rather than being placed on dangerous puberty blockers and wearing chest binders as encouraged by government agencies, could be committing a criminal offence.
Complaints can also be made to the Human Rights Commission which will also have a “chilling” effect. The tweet shown here from a key supporter of the proposed law reveals their disdain for the important role and rights of loving parents.
- It could be illegal for a counsellor, spiritual leader, pastor, youth worker, teacher or other professional to counsel a child or adult with gender dysphoria in a way that affirms biology. They could be liable to up to 5 years imprisonment.
- If a person wanted to align their sexuality with the teachings and values of their particular faith – be it Muslim or Christian, Jewish or Sikh, etc – and sought help to do so from a minister or faith leader, the proposed law change would make it virtually impossible to access the support they wanted.
- Prayer, as part of counselling or within the setting of a religious meeting, could fall inside the concept of ‘conversion therapy’. This has been acknowledged by the Ministry of Justice:
“Conversion practices that take the form of prayer and counselling that are directed towards an individual would be captured.”
- Incredibly, the bill says that “consent” is irrelevant. Apparently, the mantra “my body my choice” doesn’t apply here. The right of self-determination is a founding principle of the mental health profession.
- This law could affect the charitable status of churches
Do you have a bit of extra time now?
MAKE A SUBMISSION.
Click on the link below which will guide you through the process of making a submission and where to send it. Remember – the closing date is 8 September 2021 (that’s just 21 days away).
READ our 4-page pamphlet which explains the issue, and the effect of the proposed law on families, counsellors and the faith-based community. It also spells out what you can do to respond.
WATCH this short analysis of the proposed law
ORDER pamphlets for your community organisation, church, family group, small group, community centre. Because the Labour government is railroading the public submission process, you need to place your order as soon as possible – preferably within the next 7 days so that we can get the pamphlets to you in time.
Thank you for taking the time to read this material. This bill is another form of hate speech law – criminalising what the state believes is unacceptable. And it’s another form of ‘nanny state’ – telling loving parents how to raise their children.
It’s time to speak up.
Please share so others can discover The BFD.