In a move that’s already being called historic, Tasmania has become the first Australian state to introduce a reparations program for men prosecuted under its former anti-gay laws. The new initiative, launched on November 30, 2025, aims to provide financial compensation to those who suffered under some of the harshest penalties for homosexuality in the Western world—a legacy that left deep scars on individuals and communities alike.
For many, this step is long overdue. The journey toward justice in Tasmania has been fraught with struggle and heartbreak. Back in 1988, activists—including a then 24-year-old Rodney Croome—were arrested while distributing petitions to decriminalize homosexuality. The scene was tense, with police officers detaining protesters who were simply calling for equal rights. As Croome recalls, "Our former antigay laws were serious criminal laws that carried the harshest penalty in the Western world, 21 years in jail." According to NPR, these laws didn’t just threaten; they destroyed lives.
Tasmania’s anti-gay statutes lingered long after other Australian states had moved on. It wasn’t until 1997 that Tasmania finally decriminalized male same-sex relationships, making it the last of Australia’s six states to do so. But the damage had already been done. At least 100 men are known to have been charged or convicted under these laws, and the actual number may be higher. The consequences were severe: loss of employment, family estrangement, broken relationships, and, in some tragic cases, suicide. Many victims, facing the weight of social stigma and legal condemnation, moved interstate in search of a fresh start.
"Many lost their jobs because of that. They were ostracized from their families. Some lost their relationships. We know that some took their own lives because of this, and many moved interstate to try and get away from the stigma that the conviction laid on their shoulders," Croome told NPR. The pain is not just historical; it’s deeply personal and ongoing.
Recognizing the need for redress, the Tasmanian government initially proposed a compensation amount of around $3,000 U.S.—equivalent to about two weeks of average weekly earnings in today’s terms. But that figure was quickly criticized as woefully inadequate. Human rights law professor Paula Gerber, tasked with determining appropriate compensation, was blunt in her assessment: "That is salt in the wound. That really is insulting, and you'd be better off doing nothing than doing that." Gerber’s point was clear: meaningful reparations require more than token gestures.
Heeding this advice, the government revised its offer. Now, eligible claimants can receive up to $50,000 U.S.—roughly nine months of average earnings before tax. The precise amount will depend on the specifics of each case, including whether the individual was merely charged, actually convicted, or served time in prison. As Gerber explained, "You're trying to come up with an amount that will—as much as money can—make the person whole, make them feel like there's closure, that they've received justice." Yet, she and others acknowledge that no sum can fully undo the harm inflicted.
The urgency behind the program is palpable. Many of the men affected are now elderly—some in their 90s—which has prompted the government to move quickly. Rodney Croome, who now advocates with Equality Tasmania, emphasized the importance of timely action: "The decision was to go ahead as quickly as possible because some of the men are very elderly now. I know two or three who are in their 90s, and they shouldn't have to wait any longer." For these individuals, time is of the essence, and reparations represent not just compensation, but a long-awaited acknowledgment of their suffering.
Still, questions remain about whether the program goes far enough. Ruth Forrest, who chaired the state parliamentary committee that designed the reparations scheme, put it plainly: "You can never fully compensate or take away the pain, the trauma, the suffering and the horror that those men experienced. But it does say to those men that we are sorry this happened." The program is, at its core, a gesture of contrition as much as it is a financial settlement.
Yet, for Croome and other advocates, the fight isn’t over. He argues that the reparations process should take into account the unique circumstances of each individual, rather than offering a fixed sum regardless of the depth of harm endured. "I'd like to see those who were persecuted under our former laws individually assessed rather than given a fixed amount, regardless of what they endured. I'd also like to see families have access to financial redress," Croome said. But he acknowledges that expanding the program to include families will likely present significant legal challenges.
Tasmania’s new reparations scheme is a first in Australia, and it raises thorny questions about how societies can—and should—atone for historic wrongs. The process of quantifying suffering is fraught with difficulty. As Gerber reflected, "Until you know and understand what someone suffered, how do you quantify what amount of redress they should receive?" The answer remains elusive, but the effort itself marks a significant step forward.
For those who lived under the shadow of Tasmania’s anti-gay laws, reparations are more than a payout; they’re a symbol of justice long denied. The program’s launch has been met with cautious optimism by advocates and survivors, even as debates continue about how best to address the full scope of harm. The hope is that this initiative will not only provide some measure of closure for those directly affected but also serve as a lesson for other governments grappling with similar legacies.
As Tasmania leads the way, the rest of Australia—and perhaps the world—will be watching closely. The state’s decision to acknowledge and compensate past injustices is a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of discriminatory laws, and the ongoing need for accountability and healing. For the men who endured criminalization simply for being themselves, this moment is both a reckoning and a new beginning.