Report form the Melbourne _Age_, September 15, 1992 UN TO RULE ON SEX LAWS IN TASMANIA Australia has decided to let the United Nations Human Rights Committee adjudicate on a law that makes homosexual sex illegal in Tasmania. In a long-delayed submission to the UN committee about the case of a Hobart gay activist, Mr Nick Toonen, the Federal Government said it would not challenge the admissibility of his claim. This decision is claimed to put Canberra at odds with the Tasmanian Government. Gat activists said that, in a confidential submission, the Groom Government argued the case should not be heard by the UN committee. The Toonen case is the only claim to have been brought to the committee from Australia, nearly a year after it signed the first option protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Coincidentally, the president of the Australian Law Reform Committee, Justice Elizabeth Evatt, has just been appointed to the UN committee, her office confirmed yesterday. Appointments are based on individual merits, not on national affiliation. Tasmania is the only state to outlaw homosexual sex. It is described as an offence "against the order of nature" for which a person could, in theory, be sentenced to 21 years' imprisonment. Mr Toonen says the law is an affront to his dignity, threatens his privacy and dignity, and creates conditions for the violation of human and democratic rights. An attempt to reform the law when the Labour Government was in power failed in the Legislative Council [the Tasmanian upper house]. Although the Liberal Government is considering whether to include sexual preferences in an anti-discrimination bill, the Attorney-General, Mr Cornish, said there were no plans to change the law. Mr Toonen lodged his case with the UN last December. But when the committee asked the Federal Government to respond it sought two delays, finally sending a five page reply last Thursday. The Justice Minister, Senator Tate, said the delays were caused by the need to consult the Tasmanian Government. Although it supports the admissibility of the Toonen case, the Federal Government has said nothing about its merits. But Mr Rodney Croome, a spokesman for the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, said the decision still had important political implications. "We are pleased that the Federal Government is willing to allow international exposure for what is a gross violation of human rights," he said. "It is pleasing to have the Tasmanian Government's point of view, that this case should not be heard, dismissed by the Federal Government." The case now returns to the UN committee in time for its October meeting. A further round of submissions will be called for, and Mr Croome hopes to hear a decision in about nine months. If the committee rules in favour of Mr Toonen, gay activists hope that either the state will change the law, or the Federal Government will use its external affairs powers to override Tasmania. Mr Croome said interest had been shown by other gay and lesbian groups in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. - John Collier Email: jcollier@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au HPS -- U. of Melbourne Fax: 61+3 344 7959 Parkville, Victoria, AUSTRALIA 3052