Gay Tasmanians can now apply to erase historic convictions

Tasmanians can now apply to have historic convictions for homosexual acts removed from their criminal records. The move is being celebrated by rights groups, who say the process has helped transform the state, the last one in Australia to decriminalise homosexuality. In 1997, Tasmania became the last Australian state to decriminalise homosexuality, but it has taken more than 20 years for the convictions under those laws to be addressed. As of 9 April, Tasmanians can now apply to have historic convictions for homosexual acts removed from their criminal records. Former Tasmanian anti-discrimination commissioner Robin Banks was involved in the drafting and progression of the new laws through the state's parliament. She says the latest development represents what has been a major change in attitudes towards the LGBTIQ community in Tasmania. Ms Banks says the anti-homosexuality laws, which included outlawing men wearing dresses in the street, should never have existed. The Human Rights Law Centre's Lee Carnie says acknowledging the injustice of Tasmania's old laws will have a practical impact on the lives of people convicted under them. But she points attention to Western Australia and the Northern Territory, where similar moves are yet to be made. Robin Banks says Tasmania's changes will allow some people to put the upheaval of that time in their lives behind them. But she says, for others, it comes too late. "People have left the state and left Australia, and, you know, sadly, some people have taken their own lives, because of the effect of the criminalisation of homosexuality. And so it means, for the people who are still with us, a recognition that their lives should never have been harmed in that way. And that's a pretty enormously big thing."

Same-sex marriage campaigner Rodney Croome Source: AAP