2016-03-31
South Australia and Queensland need to abolish the homophobic ‘gay panic' defence, Australian Greens sexuality spokesperson Senator Robert Simms says.
"The idea that a murder charge could be watered down in instances of an unwanted ‘homosexual advance' would be alarming to most Australians. While other states abolished the defence more than a decade ago, SA and QLD are yet to follow suit, even after QLD pledged a year ago to abolish the law," Senator Simms said.
"It's shameful that my home state of South Australia, the first state to decriminalise homosexuality, is lagging on abolishing this archaic defence.
"The law legitimises homophobia in Australia. It is this dangerous attitude that perpetuates homophobic bullying within our nation's schools and workplaces.
"I'll be moving a motion in the Senate when Parliament resumes to ask the South Australian and Queensland governments to dump this outdated and homophobic defence."