Nation-first compensation for people convicted of past homosexuality offences has been formally approved by a state parliament as advocates urge others to follow.

Tasmania in 1997 became the final Australian jurisdiction to decriminalise homosexuality, but it remained illegal to "cross-dress" in the state until 2001.

The state government in 2017 apologised for the criminalisation of people's sexuality and passed legislation to expunge historical offences.

Legislation to establish a redress scheme for people who had been charged or convicted of homosexuality or cross-dressing passed the final hurdle in Tasmania's parliament on Thursday.

The enabling bill passed the upper house following its third and final reading after going through the lower house in September 2024.

Equality Tasmania

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