By GEORGE CHRISTENSEN
What if praying with your own child could put you on the wrong side of the law?In Tasmania, that is no longer some far-fetched question.
The Tasmanian Greens have released a draft law to ban so-called gay conversion practices. It includes criminal offences, even for conduct directed toward a child. In layman’s language, this means almost any attempt to counsel a child who is confused about their sexuality could become suspect, especially if the counselling steers them towards heterosexuality. It also creates a civil scheme that can lead to reports, investigations and compliance notices.
The Greens are doing what the Greens do. No surprise there. But the real question is whether Liberal and Labor MPs will let this ideological overreach become law.
Supporters say this is about stopping coercion and abuse. Real abuse should be punished. No argument there. But this draft goes much further than that.
The protections for prayer, religious teaching, church standards and parent-child discussions are narrow and conditional. If your prayer, counsel or guidance is judged to have the “purpose” of changing someone’s sexuality or gender identity, that protection can disappear.
That puts loving parents, pastors, counsellors and faith communities in a very dangerous position. Ordinary Christian care could suddenly be treated as something suspicious. A prayer. A conversation around the kitchen table. A pastor trying to help someone live according to their faith.
This is not just a Tasmanian issue, either. If this kind of law gets through in one state without a fight, activists will point to it everywhere else. That is why Christians, parents and civil-liberties supporters across Australia have every reason to sign and speak up.
ABC reports both Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor Opposition Leader Josh Willie already support a ban. That makes public pressure even more important.
If MPs do not hear strong objections, this will harden fast. Party rooms will lock in. Amendments will become harder. Families and churches will be left dealing with the consequences.
Here is why this matters so much. Coercion and abuse can be banned without putting prayer, pastoral care and parenting under legal suspicion. Tasmanian MPs can protect people from harm while also protecting basic freedoms. This draft does not get that balance right.
The bill’s exemptions are conditional. Prayer, religious teaching and family conversations are excluded only when they are deemed separate from a “conversion practice.” That means the fight will often come down to alleged purpose and intent.
The child-related offence is especially alarming. The draft creates an indictable offence for practices directed toward a child, with no need to prove any injury.
Even without a conviction, the civil scheme can still do plenty of damage. Complaints, investigations and compliance notices can become punishment by process. Plenty of decent people will simply stop speaking, stop praying, or stop counselling honestly rather than risk being dragged through it.
Parents are the primary carers and moral guides of their children. Pastors and faith leaders must be free to pray, teach and counsel according to conscience and Scripture.
If this law passes without strong safeguards, Tasmania will import the same civil-liberties problems that have already alarmed faith communities elsewhere.
And here is the good news: your voice can genuinely change this outcome.
Tasmanian MPs are facing a live legislative decision. The bill is expected to come before parliament later in 2026. It is moving, but it is not locked in yet.
Yes, both major party leaders reportedly back a ban. But individual MPs still have room to demand amendments, especially if they see a large public backlash forming.
A strong wave of signatures from Christians, parents and civil-liberties supporters raises the political cost of overreach. It gives sympathetic MPs something to point to. It tells undecided MPs that religious freedom and parental rights are not fringe issues. They matter to ordinary voters.
A win in Tasmania would send a message across Australia. It would show that religious freedom and parental rights still have organised public support, and that governments cannot just brush these concerns aside.
Now picture the alternative. The bill passes without robust amendments. Prayer, pastoral counselling and parent-child conversations become legally risky whenever someone alleges an intent to change or suppress sexuality or gender identity.
Faith leaders and parents start censoring themselves. Complaints and investigations become a weapon. Children are left with fewer trusted adults willing to speak honestly from a Christian worldview.
There is hope, Billy. But we need to act now, and we need to act in force.
Citizens have the right to contact their MPs at any time. We do not need to sit around waiting for a formal consultation window, a committee process, or permission from the political class. MPs work for the people, and they need to hear from the people before this bill goes any further.
We need as many signatures as possible to make an impression MPs cannot ignore.
For faith, family and freedom,
George Christensen, and the entire team at CitizenGO
P.S. Tasmania’s draft conversion practices bill could put parents, pastors and counsellors at legal risk for good-faith prayer and guidance. Even if you live outside Tasmania, this matters because bad laws spread. Click here to sign the petition now!
