Simon Corbell informs us that the Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 2011 has passed the Legislative Assembly, making it finally illegal for humans to engage in sexual activity with animals in Canberra.
“The ACT now joins South Australia as the only Australian jurisdictions to criminalise all sexual activities, not just the penetration by or of an animal,” Mr Corbell said.
“When the Government identified mid last year that the offence of bestiality had been unknowingly repealed prior to self government, we recognised the need to re-establish the offence to properly protect animals in the ACT.
“The legislation re-introduces the offence to the ACT’s statute books, and ensures that using an animal in a sexual assault is a serious sexual offence.”
The Act also clears up a few other points:
- • amends the act of indecency offences at section 60 of the Crimes Act 1900 to clarify the fault elements
• includes an alternative verdict provision for the section 603 drug trafficking office in the Criminal Code 2002
• amends the definition of ‘stolen property’ as it applies to the section 324 unlawful possession of stolen property offence in the Criminal Code 2002.
• Allows for a victim impact statement to be given to a court when considering if a conviction should be recorded against an offender.