Australia: ACT passes bill to allow men to wipe out historic gay sex crimes
The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly has voted to wipe out historic gay sex crimes.
The bill allowing men convicted of historic gay sex crimes to come forward and clear their convictions from their criminal record, passed unanimously in the Assembly.
Although the convictions will not be automatically wiped out, under the Spent Convictions (Historical Convictions Extinguishment) Amendment Bill 2015, men can apply to have them permanently removed.
The men will not be required to attend court to have their records altered.
The Chief Minister Andrew Barr said he thinks the bill will send a positive message to the gay community in the ACT.
“The discriminatory approach of past decades is no longer acceptable and continues this government’s commitment to removing the remaining vestiges of discrimination on the grounds of sexuality,” he told the Star Observer.
“The government recognises that loving, respectful relationships make a positive contribution to the community regardless of the gender of the parties,” Barr said.
Some activists have gone further to suggest the Government should also issue an apology as well as passing the bill.
It is currently not possible to have historic gay sex crimes expunged in Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, or the Northern Territory.
The ACT was the first to decriminalise homosexuality back in 1973.
