A bill banning LGBTIQ+ conversion therapy has passed Victoria's Upper House.

The bill is set to become law after it passed without amendments, 27 votes to nine.

The passage of the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practises Prohibition Bill makes it illegal to try and change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity in Victoria.

It also gives Victoria's Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission new powers to investigate and refer matters to police.

The law carries prison terms of up to 10 years or hefty fines for people who try to suppress or change someone’s sexuality.

To be considered a change or suppression practice, the bill includes three criteria:

  • Being directed at an individual

  • Occuring on the basis of a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, and

  • Having the aim to change or suppress that person's identity

Assisting a person to express their self-defined gender identity does not amount to suppression practices, according to the bill.

Harriet Shing, the only openly gay MP in Victoria’s Uper House, made an emotional speech in favour of the bill.

“Shame is at the heart of the need for this legislation, and it is a recognition of this shame that has brought about the importance of a bill like this,” Ms Shing said.

“Shame comes in so many layers, and people who grow up in a family or in a faith that says that they are not good enough, that they are wrong — that we are wrong — that says in fact that love is conditional upon us either denying who we are or agreeing to change — or in certain tragic circumstances, are forced to change.”

The Victorian Opposition unsuccessfully tried to put forward amendments relating to perceived religious freedoms.

The Liberal member for Western Metropolitan region, Bernie Finn, says it is a basic “freedom” to be able to upend somebody’s self-identification.

“This bill is an attack on basic freedoms, it is an attack on freedom of choice, it is an attack on free speech and it is an attack of freedom of association,” Mr Finn said.

Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown welcomed the new law, which puts Victoria on the same page as Queensland and the ACT.

“This law sends a powerful message that LGBTQ+ people are whole and valid just as they are, and establishes powerful mechanisms to deal with incredibly harmful practices that LGBTQ+ people have, for too long, endured across Victoria,” she said.

“From consent-based facilitation, investigation and enforcement action by the Equal Opportunity Commission, to criminal penalties for serious injury, this legislation provides a range of avenues to prevent harm and bring perpetrators to justice.”