Improving the operation of the expungement of historical offences scheme

The Expungement of Historical Offences Amendment Bill 2025 has passed the Parliament.

The Bill improves the scheme which enables charges and convictions for historical offences, including homosexual offences and cross-dressing offences, to be expunged.

Attorney-General, Guy Barnett, said the expungement scheme is an important step forward for Tasmania.

“We are committed to helping Tasmanians deal with the challenges that they face with compassion and commonsense,” the Attorney-General said.

“The Bill passed today contains important changes to improve the operation of the Expungement Scheme and provides redress payments for those charged or convicted under the former laws prohibiting homosexuality and cross-dressing in Tasmania.

“I want to thank the Parliament for working together collaboratively on this reform and welcome the passage of the Bill.”

The Expungement of Historical Offences Amendment Bill 2025 responds to the recommendations of the Independent Review of Expungement of Historical Offences Act 2017 undertaken by Melanie Bartlett and Taya Ketelaar-Jones in 2020 as well as the Inquiry Report of the Joint Sessional Committee on Gender and Equality.

The Final Report of the Independent Review made 13 recommendations and those which required legislative amendment are addressed in the Bill, which will expand and enhance the operation and administration of the Act.

The Independent Review also made a number of recommendations that did not require legislative amendment and the Department of Justice has been implementing these administrative changes to ensure a more streamlined process and increase awareness of the Scheme.