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Last edited: April 10, 2007
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Australia
- Statute: None.
- Restriction: Queensland’s age of consent is 16, but anal
intercourse is illegal involving anyone under 18.
In the state of Queensland the age of consent is 16, but
a separate law defines a minimum age of 18 years for any person who engages in
the act of "sodomy." A penalty of up to 14 years jail applies for
offenders (whether male or female). Both partners are potentially liable
to punishment unless the younger is under 16.
Queensland is the only state in Australia that has a
Sodomy Law. It was enacted in 1990 at the same time as sex between men was
decriminalised. When Conservatives briefly took Government in 1997 they
changed the definition of the offence from "unlawful anal
intercourse" involving a person "not an adult" under Criminal
Law (17 years) to "sodomy" involving anyone under 18 years. They
simultaneously doubled the penalties.
See the Campaign For
Sodomy Law Reform in Queensland for more information.
News
See Fiji for news about an Australian
man's arrest for consensual gay sex and Australian responses.
- Happy
Hitch for Gay Crusader - Mercury,
February 18, 2007
The man who took Tasmania's former anti-gay laws to the United Nations
added commitment to his campaigning when he tied the knot with his
long-standing male partner yesterday.
- Gay
Sea-Change Sweeps Tasmania - ABC
Local Radio, March 14, 2006
- Rights
Activists Recall When Gay Sex was a Crime - The
Age, December 19, 2005
- Gay Sex Prosecution Condemned - Sydney
Star Observer, February 3, 2005
- Gay Old Time - The
Age, January 23, 2005
- A Prude Awakening - The
Age, January 9, 2005
- Australia’s First Civil Unions - December
31, 2003
- Al-Fatiha Applauds Australia High
Court Decision Granting Refugee Status to Sexual Minorities - Al-Fatiha
Foundation, December
10, 2003
- Sexuality Persecution Grounds for
Asylum Court Rules - 365Gay.com, December 9, 2003
- NT
Age of Consent for Gays Lowered - November 26, 2003
- “Sodomy” - September 24, 2003
- Australia State to Modernize Consent Law - 365Gay.com,
May 6, 2003
- Victimised Gay Couple Contest
Refugee Refusal - The
Guardian, April 8, 2003
- Tassie Gives Gays New Rights - September 25,
2002
Editorials
Action Alerts
Advocates
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