Category: Sexual Offences

Rape A man commits rape if he has sexual intercourse with a woman who at the time of the intercourse does not consent to it, and at that time he knows that she does not consent or he is reckless as to whether she does or does not consent. Rape occurs where the penis enters […]

Cross-Examination of Victim In a  trial for a rape offence or a sexual assault offence, [when a person pleads not guilty] evidence is not to be allowed other than with the consent of the judge and no questions will be asked in cross-examination, about the sexual experience of the complainant with any person. The Judge […]

Victorian Legislation The Offences against the Persons Act 1861 made buggery a crime, subject on conviction, to imprisonment up to for life. Buggery applies equally to males and females. It covered sodomy between males and females and intercourse between people and animals. Consent was not a defence. Following the famous Norris case, a challenge under […]

Commission into Child Abuse The sexual abuse of children has come into public focus over the last 30 years. A particular feature has been the abuse of children while in the care of state,  religious and other charitable bodies which were undertaking childcare on behalf of the state. The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse […]

Sexual Exploitation There are a number of modern offences concerned with the trafficking of persons for the purpose of exploitation, which derives from Conventions.  Sexual exploitation includes production of pornography, causing a person to engage in sexual activity for the purpose of production of pornography, prostitution of a person, committing an offence under the Sexual […]

Soliciting for Prostitution Formerly, it is not an offence to have intercourse in return for payment, provided that there are no circumstances that make it otherwise unlawful.  It may be unlawful due to age, mental disability, lack of consent, et cetera.  The law formerly attempted to control prostitution only in its public form and certain […]