Rape and Sexual Assault

Rape and sexual assault are crimes.  If convicted, the offender can be sent to prison.

Consent for sexual intercourse can only be given by a rational and sober person – this means that someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs may not be able to provide valid consent.

It is not an excuse for someone to say they didn’t rape or sexually assault another person because they didn’t say no. Silence does not mean consent.

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted then you should report it to the police right away. In Tasmania you can also contact the Sexual Assault Support Service for help and advice, on their rape crisis response number which operates 24/7 on 03 62311817.

You can also call and speak with a counsellor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling the nationwide 1800Respect helpline on 1800 737 732.

Unlawful Sexual Intercourse

In Tasmania, the legal term for rape is ‘unlawful sexual intercourse’.

Sexual intercourse includes penetration of a person’s vagina, anus or mouth by a penis, a body part other than a penis or an object manipulated by another person.

Remember, consent means free agreement. A person cannot consent if they are unconscious, asleep, or drunk. A person is not consenting if they agree because they are threatened or forced, or because they don’t understand that the act is a sexual act.