The state of Victoria has become the first state to erase previous criminal convictions of people who engaged in consensual homosexual sex prior to its decriminalization.
The legislation, brought in by the Napthine government, will allow Victorian men to apply to have their past convictions quashed.
Convictions men could previously be charged with for engaging in consenting homosexual sex acts included “buggery” and “loitering for homosexual purposes”. Such convictions have proved troublesome for men when applying for jobs or travelling.
Last night the Victorian parliament became the first in the country to vote in favour of quashing the previous convictions of men charged with acts of homosexuality.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young praised the decision, saying: ““These men have been forced to live under an unwarranted cloud of suspicion and discrimination. Now, finally, that cloud has been lifted,”
“While Victorian men can now move on from these unreasonable convictions, there are many others around the country who aren’t so lucky.
“I welcome this move from the Victorian Parliament and I urge other state governments around the country to do the same.”
However, a spokesperson for Western Australia’s Attorney-General Michael Mischin previously stated that there were not any plans to similar legislation to come into effect in WA.
“WA has no current plans for such legislation, however under the Spent Convictions Act 1988 (WA), a person can apply to have an offence deemed “spent,” making it illegal for a person to be discriminated against in any way in relation to a conviction that has been “spent”
Read More: Removing Past Gay Convictions Not on WA’s Agenda
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