Criminal Offences for Performing Sexual Acts in the Presence of Children
Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences and Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2025
1st House
2nd House
Law
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
A person commits an offence if they perform a sexual act in front of a child under 16; the child's presence must be a source of sexual arousal or gratification
Performing female genital mutilation is a crime regardless of the victim's age; the act does not need to be for ritual or traditional purposes
Piercing and tattooing are not crimes; the practitioner must follow all legal, professional and ethical requirements
A person cannot be acquitted if a court is unsure whether a victim was alive or dead during the crime; the person is sentenced for the lesser of the two possible offences