Harmonising Sexual Consent Law in Australia: Goals, Risks and Challenges

Article


Hill, Guzyal and Crowe, Jonathan. 2024. "Harmonising Sexual Consent Law in Australia: Goals, Risks and Challenges." Monash University Law Review. 49 (3). https://doi.org/10.26180/25650255
Article Title

Harmonising Sexual Consent Law in Australia: Goals, Risks and Challenges

ERA Journal ID33636
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsHill, Guzyal and Crowe, Jonathan
Journal TitleMonash University Law Review
Journal Citation49 (3)
Number of Pages30
Year2024
PublisherMonash University Publishing
Place of PublicationAustralia
ISSN0311-3140
1839-3837
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.26180/25650255
Web Address (URL)https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/journal_contribution/Harmonising_Sexual_Consent_Law_in_Australia_Goals_Risks_and_Challenges/25650255
Abstract

The 2021 Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, sought to persuade ‘all governments across Australia to adopt the same definitions of consent, grooming, the age of a child, and sexual intercourse’. However, sexual consent law harmonisation in Australia faces formidable obstacles. We argue that an affirmative consent standard represents the appropriate goal of harmonisation, while potential risks include levelling-down reforms and undermining the role of competitive federalism. We identify four main obstacles to legal harmonisation, including strong advocacy coalitions, jurisdictional differences, historical failures and political disincentives. We conclude these obstacles do not mean harmonisation is undesirable or impossible, but it would require prolonged attention, resources and political will, as well as a nuanced understanding of the difficulties involved.

Keywords sexual consent law; Australia ; harmonisation
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020480401. Criminal law
Byline AffiliationsSchool of Law and Justice
Charles Darwin University
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