Tasmania is set to become the first Australian state to compensate people convicted under now-repealed laws against homosexuality and cross-dressing.
Under legislation introduced to parliament on Tuesday, people who were charged will be eligible for payments of $15,000, those convicted will receive $45,000 and anyone who served time in prison will get $75,000.
Around 96 people are believed to have been convicted of homosexual offences in Tasmania before the last prosecution in 1984.
The state was the last in Australia to decriminalise homosexuality, doing so in 1997, while cross-dressing remained illegal until 2000.
Attorney-General Guy Barnett said the move marked an important step forward.
“We are committed to helping Tasmanians deal with the challenges that they face with compassion and common sense,” he said.
Rodney Croome from Equality Tasmania said many victims had endured devastating consequences.
“Many of those convicted under our old laws lost their job, family, friends, housing and many had to leave the state,” he said.
“Financial redress will help make up for the pain and loss victims’ experienced and send a message that the Tasmanian government is taking responsibility for the injustice its predecessors inflicted.”
“It’s appropriate Tasmania leads the nation on this important reform because Tasmania was the last state to decriminalise homosexuality and the only state to criminalise cross-dressing.”
The legislation states recipients must first successfully apply to have their criminal records expunged to become eligible for a redress payment.
The legislation has support from all three major parties and is expected to pass the lower house quickly.
