Doctors bemoan PM's 'missed opportunity'

The head of Australia's most powerful doctors' group has lamented Prime Minister Scott Morrison's missed opportunity in failing to denounce gay "conversion" therapy.

Australian Medical Association president Tony Bartone said there was no place for the widely-discredited and dangerous therapy in the 21st century, despite Mr Morrison claiming it is "just not an issue" for him.

"We know that it's associated with negative outcomes, it's not based on any research, it's archaic, and it's only associated with long term harm to the patients involved," Dr Bartone told Sky News on Tuesday.