*Age Of Consent & Legal Sexual Activity for the State of Queensland, Australia - A campaign to remove our Sodomy Law (which was enacted in 1990).

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27th July 2007 Email – letter to the Editor of the Courier Mail (C.c. to the Premier, Attorney-General and Neil Roberts MP) – with the heading “Beattie Government leaves Queensland youth at high risk of HIV.” I highlight the fact that the current law leaves youth at increased, yet avoidable risk of HIV infection – because it effectively impedes vital safe sex information. I quote Peter Beattie who wrote in his Oct 1990 PCJC Report (p.75) that "as the father of three young children I am determined to do everything within my power to ensure that by the time my children reach their teenage years everything is done over the years to wipe out AIDS. This can only be done by openness, honesty and frankness in dealing with the AIDS issue and how to stop its spread."  

 

----- Original Message -----

From: John Frame

To: cmletters@qnp.newsltd.com.au

Cc: Attorney-SMTP ; The Premier ; Nudgee Electorate Office

Sent: Friday, July 27, 2007 2:17 PM

Subject: Beattie Gov't leaves Qld youth at high risk of HIV

 

Letter to the Editor, Courier Mail

 

 C.c. to Premier Peter Beattie

 

 C.c. Attorney-General Kerry Shine

 

 C.c  Neil Roberts MP for Nudgee (my local MP)

 

 

Re: Beattie Government leaves Queensland youth at high risk of HIV

 

Queensland youth aged 16 and 17 remain at dramatically increased risk of HIV infection because Queensland's unequal age of consent (unique in Australia) severely impedes access to vital safe sex information. This is especially serious in the light of La Trobe Uni research which shows that one third of Australian youth do not use condoms for penetrative sex.

 

One of the main reasons given for "homosexual law reform" in 1990 was to facilitate the effective delivery of safe sex information and to remove the stigma which would stop same sex attracted men from being tested or treated for HIV.

 

Mr Beattie chaired the 1990 Parliamentary Committee in which he personally endorsed the majority recommendation for a truly equal age of consent. He wrote that "as the father of three young children I am determined to do everything within my power to ensure that by the time my children reach their teenage years everything is done over the years to wipe out AIDS. This can only be done by openness, honesty and frankness in dealing with the AIDS issue and how to stop its spread." (Oct 1990 PCJC Report p.75)

 

Mr. Beattie has clearly failed to keep this promise to Queensland's youth - yet he owes them a duty of care.

 

To claim to be a man of his word he must act immediately to allow life saving equal protection and support of youth by enacting a truly equal age of consent.

 

Queensland's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner has advised both the Premier and the Attorney-General that the current law is definitively discriminatory. That should have been reason enough for action. For the sake of all present and future Queensland youth the Beattie Government must act now.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

John Frame
jvframe@ozemail.com.au

Ph: 07 3350 1562 / mobile: 0409 501 561
Post: 82 Main Avenue, Wavell Heights 4012, QLD, Australia.

 

DVD-Video/CD-ROM sent to all MP's June 2007: http://www.queerradio.org/AOC_June_2007_DVD_CD-ROM_pack.htm  

Comprehensive reform lobbying details (since early 2000): http://www.queerradio.org/AgeOfConsent.htm