The Criminal Offence of Sexual Touching in New South Wales
Radio shock jock Alan Jones is facing multiple allegations that he sexually touched a number of young men without their consent . Mr Jones is no stranger to controversy, having been instrumental in inciting the Cronulla riots of 2005, was...
A History of Sexual Consent Laws in Australia
Throughout history, sexual consent laws have historically been intrinsically linked with child sexual abuse laws. In recent years, following the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse and the high profile sexual assault trial of Saxon Mullins, both sexual consent and child...
Does the Dalai Lama’s Conduct Amount to a Child Sexual Offence?
The Dalai Lama has sent the internet into overdrive in the past few days, with his bizarre interaction with a young boy, who he asked to lick his tongue. A lot has been said about the spiritual leader’s ensuing apology...
Can a Person Consent to Sexual Activity Whilst Intoxicated?
The twenty first century has seen a whole of radical changes to the definition of sexual consent in New South Wales, invariably expanding the situations when it is to be considered a person is not consenting. Previous definition of sexual...
The New Consent Directions in Jury Trials for Sexual Offences
The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Consent Reforms) Act 2021 (‘the Amending Act’) came into effect on 1 June 2022 (NSW), overhauling the definition of consent as it relates to certain sexual offences and revising the meaning of sexual intercourse, sexual touching and...
What is the Definition of Sexual Consent in New South Wales?
The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Consent Reforms) Act 2021 came into effect on 1 June 2022 (NSW), repealing the definition of sexual consent contained in section 61HE of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and inserting a new Subdivision 1A into Division...
The Offence of Sexual Touching of a Child Under the Age of 10 in New South Wales
A man has been charged with 21 criminal offences after multiple alleged sexual offences against children at a shopping centre in the south-west of Sydney. Police say they were called to a shopping centre on Elizabeth Drive in Liverpool at...
Complainant’s History of False Sexual Assault Allegations is Inadmissible
In a recent decision, a five judge bench of the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal (NSWCCA) ruled that legislation which prevents criminal defence lawyers from asking questions to complainants in sexual assault cases about their sexual history extends...