Greens NSW MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC has welcomed the passing of the Criminal Records Amendment (Historical Homosexual Offences) Bill 2014.
The bill amends the Criminal Records Act to enable certain convictions for various decriminalised homosexual sexual conduct offences to become extinguished.
Dr Faruqi said, ‘This bill will go a significant way towards eradicating homophobia in our laws and our society.
‘The Greens are very proud to be strongly supporting the bill.
‘[It] is a day to acknowledge and celebrate the LGBTI community and supporters who have been actively advocating for change and equality.
‘As parliamentarians it is our duty not just to legislate for the future but to identify, correct, and learn from the mistakes of the past.
‘It is shameful that an institution such as this would have, only 30 years ago, considered consensual homosexual acts to be criminal.
‘We need to stamp out homophobia and transphobia in all our laws and policies, and push for international and interstate change too.’
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