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Tasmania Pioneers Reparations for Anti-Gay Laws
Tasmania’s Lower House has unanimously passed a bill to provide financial redress to victims of the state’s former laws against homosexuality and cross-dressing.
This landmark move, hailed by Equality Tasmania, positions Tasmania to become the first Australian state to offer financial payments to individuals charged, convicted and/or sentenced under the old legislation.
A payment will be contingent on a successful application to expunge the criminal record. The bill is expected to be debated in the Upper House in November. Equality Tasmania hopes this action will encourage other states and the Commonwealth to follow Tasmania’s lead.
Media release – Equality Tasmania, 25 September 2025
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR FINANCIAL REDRESS IN TAS LOWER HOUSE
Equality advocates have welcomed the unanimous passage through the Tasmanian Lower House of financial redress for victims of the state’s former laws against homosexuality and cross-dressing.
Tasmania is set to become the first state to allow payments to those charged, convicted and/or sentenced under the old laws with $15,000 for a charge, $45,000 for a conviction and $75,000 for a sentence including gaol time.
Equality Tasmania spokesperson, Rodney Croome, thanked the Tasmanian Government and Attorney-General, Guy Barnett, for moving the reform as well as the Greens for originally proposing it and Labor and the cross-bench for their passionate commitment.
“It was inspiring and deeply moving to see such an important reform receive unanimous support across the political spectrum.”
“This illustrates how profoundly Tasmania has changed for the better since the time when we were the last state to decriminalise homosexuality and the only state to criminalise cross-dressing.”
The bill will likely be debated in the Upper House in November.
Croome said financial redress will help remedy the trauma and injustice suffered by victims of the old laws.
“Many of those convicted under our old laws lost their job, family, friends, housing and many had to leave the state.”
“Financial redress will help make up for the pain and loss victims’ experienced, and send a message that Tasmania is taking responsibility for these historic injustices.”
“I hope other states and the Commonwealth will follow Tasmania’s lead by providing redress for historic wrongs against LGBTIQA+ people.”
A financial redress payment will be contingent on a successful application to expunge a criminal record for homosexuality or cross-dressing.
Homosexuality was decriminalised in Tasmania in 1997. The law against cross-dressing, which was disproportionally enforced against transgender women, was repealed in 2000.
Media release – Equality Tasmania, 23 September 2025
TASMANIA LEADS ON FINANCIAL REDRESS FOR VICTIMS OF FORMER ANTI-GAY & CROSS-DRESSING LAWS
Tasmania will become the first state to provide financial redress for people convicted under the state’s former laws against homosexuality and cross-dressing after legislation was introduced to State Parliament today.
The bill, tabled by the state government, provides for automatic payments of $15,000 for a charge, $45,000 for a conviction and $75,000 for a sentence including gaol time.
Equality Tasmania spokesperson, Rodney Croome, applauded the legislation.
“Many of those convicted under our old laws lost their job, family, friends, housing and many had to leave the state.”
“Financial redress will help make up for the pain and loss victims’ experienced, and send a message that the Tasmanian Government is taking responsibility for the injustice its predecessors inflicted.”
“It’s appropriate Tasmania leads the nation on this important reform because Tasmania was the last state to decriminalise homosexuality and the only state to criminalise cross-dressing.”
A financial redress payment will be contingent on a successful application to expunge a criminal record for homosexuality or cross-dressing.
Financial redress was successfully proposed by the Tasmanian Greens with the support of Labor before the last state election.
Parliament’s Gender and Equality Committee recommended the amounts that have been adopted by the Government in its legislation tabled today. With support from all three parties and many crossbenchers the legislation is expected to pass the Lower House as early as this week.
Homosexuality was decriminalised in Tasmania in 1997. The law against cross-dressing, which was disproportionally enforced against transgender women, was repealed in 2000.
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