Liberal MP’s sister says father’s church is a ‘cult’ where ‘gay conversion’ practices may still be happening

The sister of Victorian Liberal MP Renee Heath has described their father’s church as a “cult” and told an inquiry that so-called “gay conversion” practices may still be occurring in the state.

Clare Heath-McIvor, daughter of City Builders church pastor Brian Heath, told the parliamentary inquiry into cults and organised fringe groups that leaders of some churches in the New Apostolic Reformation movement, of which her father’s church is a part, believe “God’s law” overrides the state’s.

“Practices like ‘gay conversion’ therapy, which is properly called sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts, even though that is illegal … I have grave concerns that it’s still happening because, according to them, the government of God is higher,” Heath-McIvor said.

“This practice, even t