Some prayers are now “unlawful” in New South Wales, Australia, the Attorney General has admitted.
Michael Daley confirmed that some prayers are illegal, in response to a question from politician Susan Carter, who raised concerns over the Conversion Practices Ban Act. Daley implied that this could even include silent prayer, when Carter raised it as an example.
The Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 took effect on 4 April. Anyone accused of “changing or suppressing” another’s gender identity or sexual orientation could be fined up to $100,000 as part of the civil complaints scheme. If the person was deemed to cause “substantial” mental or physical harm, they could be sentenced up to five years in prison.
A video publicising the law, released by Anti-Discrimination NSW, states that ‘conversion practices’ could resemble “prayer or pastoral conversation that is intended to change or suppress someone’s gender or sexuality”.
Carter quoted guidance from Anti-Discrimination NSW, and accused the NSW Government of putting limits on people’s prayers, stating it “sounds like a prohibition on prayer does it not? Prayer is lawful, unless it is about a matter which has been declared unlawful.”
Daley talked around the issue, but said: “If it’s an unlawful prayer, then it’s not a lawful prayer.”