*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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29^th July 2009 Email to Premier Anna Bligh, Attorney-General Cameron Dick and to the Courier Mail as well as The Australian. On the previous evening, 28 July 2009, Tony Fitzgerald – author of the 1989 Fitzgerald Report on widespread official corruption in Queensland – spoke at Griffith University. He strongly criticised the Queensland Labor Government of the last 12 years for failing to take measures to curb or eliminate identifiable areas of corruption. I write pointing out that they have also deliberately failed to take action to follow the clear Fitzgerald Report related recommendation for a truly equal age of consent. I conclude by asking “Are they waiting for another Fitzgerald Inquiry to twist their arm?”

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

From: John Frame

To: Premier Anna Bligh ; Attorney General

Cc: ARCQ lobby grp ; ausqueer@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 6:54 PM

Subject: The Fitzgerald Report recommendation for a truly equal age of consent

To Premier Anna Bligh and Attorney-General Cameron Dick,

Dear Premier and Attorney-General,

Please find below, for your reference, a copy of the letter which I have submitted tonight to the Courier Mail in regard to your ongoing refusal to enact equal age of consent reform.

To The Editor, The Courier Mail

for publication

Tony Fitzgerald is right in highlighting the failings of the Beattie/Bligh Labor team these last 12 years.

One key point against them is their refusal to follow the Fitzgerald Report related recommendation for a truly equal age of consent at 16. Premiers Beattie and Bligh and their five Attorneys-General have all failed to amend the Criminal Code to be in accord with a majority Recommendation made by the 1990 PCJC Committee reporting on Reforms in Laws Related to Homosexuality, which was ""THE AGE OF CONSENT FOR HOMOSEXUAL ACTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF SEXUAL EQUALITY AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BE THE SAME FOR MALES AS IT IS FOR FEMALES, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE SEXUAL ACT IS HETEROSEXUAL OR HOMOSEXUAL.”

The PCJC Report includes Committee Chairman Peter Beattie's written support for that Recommendation.

Since 2003 Queensland has been the only region in Australia where the age of consent in the Criminal Code does not allow equal support and protection for all youth, regardless of their gender or their sexuality. Queensland law discriminates in particular against same sex attracted male youth age 16 and 17, by defining their likely sexual activity as a crime severe enough to warrant 14 years in prison.

The higher minimum age of 18 for anal intercourse exists only because of a “behind closed doors” decision by the Goss Labor Cabinet, as a token of consolation to its own handful of ultra conservative MPs. It was introduced in the November 1990 Bill which otherwise “decriminalised” sex between men. 

Queensland Labor's own policy platform specifically supports equal age of consent reform, so why is our Labor Government still refusing to commit to this vital aspect of social reform? Are they waiting for another Fitzgerald Inquiry to twist their arm?

yours sincerely,

John Frame
jvframe@ozemail.com.au
http://www.queerradio.org/JohnFrame.html
Ph: 07 3350 1562 / mobile: 0409 501 561
Post: 82 Main Avenue, Wavell Heights 4012, QLD, Australia.

----"There is no substitute for equality"----