The “Romeo and Juliet laws” – so you might have heard that they are something to do with the law and young lovers, but do you know what they mean for age of sexual consent law in Australia?
In NSW the law says that the age of sexual consent is 16. That’s the same as in all other Australian states except in South Australia and Tasmania, where the age is 17.
When people talk about the “Romeo and Juliet law”, they are usually referring to a “close-in-age defence”. In NSW, the “close-in-age-defence” means that once a person is 14, they can consent to sexual activity with another person if there is less than a two-year age gap between them.
The idea behind the “Romeo and Juliet law” is to protect young people while recognising consensual sexual activity between young people of similar ages can sometimes be okay.
So now you might know a bit more about the so called “Romeo and Juliet laws”.
When it comes to striking a balance between protecting young people from exploitation and other harms and preserving their right to privacy and healthy sexual development, as you’d figure, there’s a lot more the law considers. Also, when it comes to protecting and promoting everyone’s sexual wellbeing, there’s a lot more to consider than just what’s in our laws!
There’s also the how. How can we make sure ourselves and others feel safe, comfortable, and respected? How can we really know how someone else feels about sex? The key is clear and honest communication. Talking and checking in regularly helps make sure everyone is on the same page. Feelings about sex can be complicated, so it’s important to pay attention, listen, and give each other time to figure things out.
For more information:
- Talking Frank Podcast: Sexpectations
- Talking Frank Podcast: Consent
For someone to talk to confidentially:
- Family Planning Australia Talkline – talk to a sexual and reproductive health nurse – 1300 658 886
- Kids Help Line – phone counselling service for 5 to 25 year olds – 1800 551 800 (available 24 hours)
- Lifeline Australia – crisis support – 13 11 14 (available 24 hours)
- Mensline Australia – men and boys support – 1300 78 99 78 (available 24 hours)
- NSW Sexual Violence Helpline – sexual assault support – 1800 424 017 (available 24 hours)
- 13Yarn – national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping – 13 92 76 (available 24 hours)
- Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline – supporting LGBTQ+ communities – 1800 497 212
- Relationships Australia – for individuals, couples, and families experiencing relationship difficulties – 1300 364 277
Disclaimer: The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication. However, laws and regulations may change over time. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. For the most up-to-date legal information, contact Legal Aid NSW or find the relevant legal aid commission in your state at Nation Legal Aid. If you are under 25 you can request free legal advice at Youth Law Australia
