Abstract
The report provides an overview of the socio-political factors and events that have influenced the development of Australia’s child sexual abuse legislation from 1788-2013.
Key developments in relevant legislation during this period which are discussed in detail in the report include:
- the decriminalisation of homosexual acts between consenting males
- the removal of gendered language from legislation to enable the law to deal with matters involving male victims, female offenders and same sex offences
- broadening the definition of sexual intercourse
- introduction of specific legislation relating to child pornography
- introduction of mandatory reporting laws.
Prepared by the Australian Institute of Criminology for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Contents
- Introduction
- Scope and structure of this report
- Definitions
- History of child sexual abuse in Australia: 1788-2013
- Eighteenth century
- Nineteenth century
- Twentieth century
- Australian Capital Territory
- Sexual offence legislation 1950-2013
- New South Wales
- Sexual offence legislation 1950-2013
- Northern Territory
- Sexual offence legislation 1950-2013
- Queensland
- Sexual offence legislation 1950-2013
- South Australia
- Sexual offence legislation 1950-2013
- Tasmania
- Sexual offence legislation 1950-2013
- Victoria
- Sexual offence legislation 1950-2013
- Western Australia
- Sexual offence legislation 1950-2013
- Commonwealth
- Sexual offence legislation 2000-13
- Conclusion
- References