Queensland Parliament has repealed the ‘gay panic’ defence, leaving South Australia as the only state to still allow its use. Queensland Parliament The defence allowed for a lesser sentence if a crime was carried out “the heat of passion caused by sudden provocation” because of someone’s homosexuality. A push to change the law came following the sentencing of the two men who killed Wayne Ruks in 2008 after one of the men said Ruks grabbed his crotch. The men were successful in their use of the ‘gay panic’ defence and received lesser jail terms for the crime. “Queensland’s criminal code must not be seen to condone violence against the gay community, or indeed any community,” said Yvette D’Ath, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. “The passing of this legislation sends an important message that discrimination is not acceptable and that we value the LBGTI community. “Equality before the law is a fundamental principle of human rights and the amendment to section 304 will ensure that this provision operates equally for all members of our community.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 22nd March 2017 - 9:32am