Consent, sexual penetration and touching

36 Consent

(1) For the purposes of Subdivisions (8A) to (8E), consent means free agreement.

(2) Circumstances in which a person does not consent to an act include, but are not limited to, the following—

  • (a) the person submits to the act because of force or the fear of force, whether to that person or someone else;
  • (b) the person submits to the act because of the fear of harm of any type, whether to that person or someone else or an animal;
  • (c) the person submits to the act because the person is unlawfully detained;
  • (d) the person is asleep or unconscious;
  • (e) the person is so affected by alcohol or another drug as to be incapable of consenting to the act;
  • (f) the person is so affected by alcohol or another drug as to be incapable of withdrawing consent to the act;
  • (g) the person is incapable of understanding the sexual nature of the act;
  • (h) the person is mistaken about the sexual nature of the act;
  • (i) the person is mistaken about the identity of any other person involved in the act;
  • (j) the person mistakenly believes that the act is for medical or hygienic purposes;
  • (k) if the act involves an animal, the person mistakenly believes that the act is for veterinary or agricultural purposes or scientific research purposes;
  • (l) the person does not say or do anything to indicate consent to the act;
  • (m) having given consent to the act, the person later withdraws consent to the act taking place or continuing.

Note
This circumstance may apply where a person gave consent when not so affected by alcohol or another drug as to be incapable of consenting

35A Sexual penetration

(1) A person (A) sexually penetrates another person (B) if—

  • (a) A introduces (to any extent) a part of A's body or an object into B's vagina; or
  • (b) A introduces (to any extent) a part of A's body or an object into B's anus; or
  • (c) A introduces (to any extent) their penis into B's mouth; or
  • (d) A, having introduced a part of A's body or an object into B's vagina, continues to keep it there; or
  • (e) A, having introduced a part of A's body or an object into B's anus, continues to keep it there; or
  • (f) A, having introduced their penis into B's mouth, continues to keep it there.

35B Touching

(1) Touching may be done—

  • (a) with any part of the body; or
  • (b) with anything else; or
  • (c) through anything, including anything worn by the person doing the touching or by the person touched.

(2) Touching may be sexual due to—

  • (a) the area of the body that is touched or used in the touching, including (but not limited to) the genital or anal region, the buttocks or, in the case of a female or a person who identifies as a female, the breasts; or
  • (b) the fact that the person doing the touching seeks or gets sexual arousal or sexual gratification from the touching; or
  • (c) any other aspect of the touching, including the circumstances in which it is done.