NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s emotional apology to LGBTI community for for historic NT laws that criminalised homosexuality

TEARS and hugs were shared in Parliament on Tuesday as Chief Minister Michael Gunner delivered an emotional apology for historic laws in the Northern Territory that criminalised homosexuality

Local artist Matthew Van Roden, Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner and human rights lawyer Anna Brown celebrate Mr Gunner’s apology to the LGBTQI community for historic laws in the NT that criminalised homosexuality Picture: KERI MEGELUS

TEARS and hugs were shared in Parliament on Tuesday as Chief Minister Michael Gunner delivered an emotional apology for historic laws in the Northern Territory that criminalised homosexuality.

Mr Gunner delivered the apology on behalf of the Government on the floor of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, as members of the LGBTQI community looked on from the public gallery.

He apologised to those who were “made into criminals” and convicted for consensual homosexual offences under laws like the Criminal Law Consolidation Act (1876), which equates homosexuality with bestiality.

“This was the law of the land until 1983 and words are powerful,” Mr Gunner said.

“The brutality of that language. More so, the brutality of the message says that you are not worthy. You are not welcome. You are an abomination.

“Today is about saying to our lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, intersex and queer community: We were wrong.

“These laws were wrong and I am sorry that you were forced to live secretly, closed off, underground.”

Darwin resident Allan Tan was among a group of LGBTQI community members sitting in the public gallery who were brought to tears by the apology. “It’s an emotional day and all I can really say is – it’s about damn time,” he said.

Legislation to allow those carrying convictions to apply to have their records wiped clean was passed on Tuesday.

Mr Gunner encouraged people to come forward and apply to expunge their historical convictions.

“Due to the nature of how government records were kept – we still don’t know just of how many people were convicted by these laws but we do know of at least a dozen people who were affected,” he said.

Director of the Human Rights Law Centre Anna Brown said she hoped the Government would look into strengthening protections for LGBTQI people under the Anti Discrimination and Births, Deaths and Marriages Acts.