*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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27^th November 2003 Email to the office of Premier of Queensland, Hon Peter Beattie, also to QldQueer and Action Reform Change Queensland email lists. (Receipt was acknowledged by Premier’s Office on 28/11/03). I wrote pointing out that even the Northern territory have enacted legislation to ensure a truly equal age of consent (passed on 26^th November 2003). I suggest that Queensland looks ridiculous in retaining its 1990 Sodomy Law. I again request commitment to reform in Queensland by eliminating the Sodomy Law. Many of the same arguments that I have presented to the Premier since earlier 2000, were also presented to the Northern Territory Parliament – but unlike Queensland they chose to listen and to act (with two opposition members even taking advantage of the conscience vote to express their support for this reform.)

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From: John Frame

To: Premier Peter Beattie ; ARCQ lobby grp ; QldQueer

Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2003 3:23 PM

Subject: age of consent reform in NT passed 26 Nov 2003

Attn Hon Peter Beattie, Premier of Queensland, QldQueer email subscribers and ARCQ (Action Reform Change Queensland) email subscribers,

An equal age of consent (16) and other significant same sex legal reform was passed at 2:30am Darwin time yesterday (Wednesday 26th November).

Today I spoke with Wendy Morton, Outreach Worker for the Darwin Community Legal Service  ( http://www.dcls.org.au/Ageofconsent.htm ) - they were key players in the lobbying process toward achieving this reform. Wendy explains how important the reform was, and why a truly equal age of consent is necessary.

The Northern Territory's reform now leaves Queenslanders in the very obvious position of looking like utter conservative rednecks in refusing to remove their 13 year old Sodomy Law, which effectively denies essential services and support to 16 and 17 year old men.

How embarrassingly backward we are in the "smart state".  

You're welcome to hear the fine interview which we'll be playing on next week's Queer Radio:

(10minutes 3.5mb 48kps mono): http://www.queerradio.org/Wendy_Morton_DCLS_27Nov03.mp3 (link no longer active, mp3 available on request)

I also remind you of the detailed file regarding Qld's Sodomy Law at www.queerradio.org/AgeOfConsent.htm and I urge you to lobby for commitment to urgent reform in Queensland.

yours sincerely,

John Frame

presenter / coordinator of Queer Radio www.queerradio.org on 4ZZZ fm102.1 Brisbane.
Ph: 07 3350 1562 / 0409 501 561
more details: www.queerradio.org/JohnFrame.html
"There is no substitute for equality"