The survey was initiated by just.equal and PFLAG Brisbane, and conducted by social science researcher, Dr Sharon Dane, in a private capacity. More than 2,500 participants were given a range of options for law and policy reform and were asked to rank each in order of priority with conversion therapy receiving the highest ranking of 3.48 out of 4.
Other priorities for LGBTIQ+ people included: funding to improve LGBTIQ+ safety in schools (ranked 3.44 out of 4); a national LGBTIQ+ suicide and mental health strategy (ranked 6.44 out of 7); and better protections for LGBTIQ+ refugees (ranked 2.53 out of 3).
The ALP and the Greens both welcomed the survey results. "I thank just.equal and PFLAG for their survey and will make sure the results help inform Labor's LGBTIQ+ election platform," said Labor's federal Equality Spokesperson, Terri Butler. "The Greens welcome the findings of this survey and we will factor this in to our LGBTIQ+ policy making ahead of the next federal election," said Australian Greens' leader, Richard Di Natale.
Transgender respondents put Medicare funding for gender transition as their top priority and intersex respondents opted for a ban on unnecessary medical procedures. Respondents also indicated support for human rights protections to be entrenched in the Constitution rather than simply in legislation.
The responses of those non-LGBTIQ+ people who took the survey were generally consistent with the responses of LGBTIQ+ people, except on the issue of law reform. Non-LGBTIQ+ people indicated that equality for LGBTIQ+ families is their first priority, whereas they ranked a ban on conversion therapy second.