The Victorian government will today make a formal state apology to people convicted under historic laws against homosexual acts. Victorian premier Daniel Andrews will address state Parliament at 2pm, with some of the men affected by the laws present to hear him say sorry.
Victoria decriminalised homosexuality in 1980, before which a conviction could lead to penalties of up to 15 years in prison. A Victorian scheme to expunge historical convictions for homosexual activity came into effect in September last year.
"These laws cast a long, dark shadow of prejudice that still stands today, and our apology is one small but meaningful way to right that historic wrong," Premier Andrews said.
Sexual and public morality offences such as buggery, gross indecency with a male and offensive behaviour were once used to criminalise consensual homosexuality throughout Australia. South Australia became the first state to decriminalise homosexuality in 1972, but Tasmania took until 1997 to fully repeal its sodomy laws.
