The Daily Populous Thursday November 3rd, 2022 day edition
Authored by abc.net.au and submitted by Xanthn

Non-consensually removing a condom during sex — an act known as "stealthing" — is set to be criminalised in South Australia, with those found guilty facing penalties of up to life imprisonment.

Key points: Stealthing is removing a condom during sex without the other person's consent

Stealthing is removing a condom during sex without the other person's consent A bill to criminalise the practice has passed the upper house of South Australia's parliament

A bill to criminalise the practice has passed the upper house of South Australia's parliament It is set to become law with the government's support

A bill to outlaw the practice, reportedly committed against one in three women, yesterday passed SA parliament's upper house, and is now set to pass the lower house with government support.

SA Best MP Connie Bonaros described stealthing as a "repugnant and disgusting act of betrayal", and said her private member's bill would ensure it was dealt with appropriately by police and the courts.

"It should have been criminalised years ago," Ms Bonaros said in a statement.

"Such grotesque acts of indecency deserve to be treated in the same manner as rape and a crime punishable by terms of imprisonment."

SA Best MP Connie Bonaros introduced the bill. ( Facebook )

A Monash University study in 2018 found that, of more than 2,000 people surveyed, one in three women, and one in five men who have sex with men, had been victims of stealthing.

Ms Bonaros said it was "more common than most people believe".

"Under the new legislation, the removal of a condom during sex without the consent of the other person will now be a crime punishable by up to life imprisonment," she said.

The amendment to the criminal law consolidation act defines stealthing as having occurred if a "person agrees to engage in the activity because of a misrepresentation (whether express or implied) as to the use of a condom during the activity".

The SA government earlier committed to backing Ms Bonaros's bill, with Attorney-General Kyam Maher describing stealthing as an "insidious practice".

"[This bill will] explicitly make sure that stealthing is covered by our criminal law and people that engage in it can be charged with sexual offences," he said.

"There have been many calls from advocates to criminalise this under state law to make sure we're explicitly ruling this as a crime.

"Other states have moved in this direction — Tasmania and the ACT have already passed laws."

A similar bill was introduced by the former Liberal government last year but it did not pass the lower house before the state election.

BelAirGhetto on November 3rd, 2022 at 03:08 UTC »

Zero to LIFE???

What?

cheknauss on November 3rd, 2022 at 02:37 UTC »

I'm not addressing the act, but I'm just curious how one would go about proving this? How could you even guarantee a conviction? Wouldn't it just be one person's word against another?

VAisforLizards on November 3rd, 2022 at 02:30 UTC »

SA is South Australia in this case rather than all of the other possible SAs out there