The Hodgman Liberal Government has today released for public consultation a draft Bill to amend the Criminal Code Act 1924.
The Bill, which follows the approaches of other Australian jurisdictions, introduces amendments to the Criminal Code to modernise rape and penetrative sexual crimes to reflect modern community standards.
The Bill will bring the Tasmanian criminal law into line with the recommendations made in the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Report into Family Violence in relation to penetrative sexual offences
As the Bill broadens the types of penetrative crimes captured by the crime of rape, the existing crime of aggravated sexual assault is no longer required and will be repealed.
The Bill is available on the Department of Justice website www.justice.tas.gov.au along with details of how to provide feedback.
The closing date for the consultation process is Friday 3 February 2017.