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WA moves to expunge convictions for historical LGBTIQ offences

The McGowan Labor Government has introduced legislation into State Parliament to implement a scheme for the expungement of historical convictions against LGBTIQ people for consensual conduct that would not be illegal today.

Consensual homosexual activity was for many years a criminal offence in Western Australia under various provisions of the Criminal Code Act 1913.  These provisions have since been repealed.

However, the repeal of the historical same sex offence provisions did not address the ongoing implications for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) community with existing criminal records.

Premier Mark McGowan today also offered an apology on behalf of the State Parliament to those impacted by the old laws.