Tasmania Rolls Out Compensation Campaign for LGBTQ+ Redress

Tasmania has launched an awareness campaign urging people who were charged or convicted under the state’s former homosexuality and cross‑dressing laws to apply for financial redress. The scheme, which began in December 2025, is the first in Australia to offer compensation to victims of these historic offences. Payments are tiered: up to $15,582 for a charge without conviction, $46,746 for a conviction without a sanction, and $77,911 for a conviction that resulted in a sanction such as imprisonment or community service. Applicants must first have the relevant charge or conviction expunged from their criminal record.

The campaign was developed in consultation with the LGBTIQA+ community and is promoted by Equality Tasmania spokesperson Rodney Croome, who called it “acknowledgement and justice” for gay, bisexual and transgender Tasmanians. Applications can be submitted confidentially to the Department of Justice, and relatives of deceased victims may also apply to have records cleared, though no payment is made on their behalf.