Were you charged or convicted under former Tasmanian laws against homosexuality or cross-dressing?
It should never have been a crime.
The former laws had consequences that extended well beyond the courtroom. People could face fines, imprisonment, criminal records, loss of employment and relationships, involuntary disclosure of their sexuality or gender expression, and lasting shame, discrimination and trauma. Tasmania was the last Australian state to decriminalise homosexuality and the only state to have criminalised cross-dressing.
The Tasmanian Government’s Expungement of Historical Offences Scheme now provides financial redress to people who have an eligible historical charge successfully expunged. Depending on the circumstances, payments currently range from $15,582 to $77,911.
From TasCAHRD‘s perspective, this is an important recognition that changing the law does not automatically undo the harm caused by the law. Redress, alongside expungement, provides a way for the Tasmanian Government to acknowledge that harm and support people affected by it.
The scheme is confidential and applications are free.