In general, there are no laws that say when a young person can start dating another person (but there are laws about doing sexual activity with another person, which we explain below!) However, there are laws which make grooming children under the age of 16 a crime.
It would be classed as rape because anyone under the age of 16 cannot legally give consent.
However, it is not an offence if the person honestly believed that you were 16 or if there was less than a two-year age difference between you. This is exactly two years. For example, if a person is 17 and has sex with someone who is 15, it is not a crime.
What if my girlfriend or boyfriend is not 16 yet? It is a very serious offence to engage in sexual activity with anyone under 16 years of age, even if you are in a relationship and they agree, as the law says that they cannot consent. It is still illegal if you are both under 16 years of age.
16 and over
If you're 16 or older, you can have sex with another person who is 16 or over without breaking the law—if you both agree, and are both capable of consenting—unless you are related to them or under their care. This also applies to same-sex couples.
But there are exceptions. Angola and the Philippines both set the age of consent at 12, which is the lowest in the world.
In Australia, there is no minimum age which a child can legally refuse to see a parent following divorce or separation. Of course, once children of divorce reach the age of 18 years they can make their own decisions about where they live or which parent they want to spend time with.
In general, there are no laws that say when a young person can start dating another person (but there are laws about doing sexual activity with another person, which we explain below!) However, there are laws which make grooming children under the age of 16 a crime.
About legal age in Australia
As your child grows up and becomes more independent, you might be wondering how old they need to be before they can do certain things. In Australia, you're considered to be an adult when you turn 18 years old.
For sexual activity to be legal, it must be consensual, and it must be between people of the same age category. For example, “two minors is illegal, as is one minor and one adult,” says Robinson. Both of these situations are considered statutory rape, which is a crime.
For example, If there is a 3 year age gap, whether older or younger, between you and the underage person you have sex with, it is only considered a misdemeanor and it is possible to be imprisoned for up to 1 year.
"Half-your-age-plus-seven" rule
An often-asserted rule of thumb to determine whether an age difference is socially acceptable holds that a person should never date someone whose age is less than half their own plus seven years.
Studies have found partners with more than a 10-year gap in age experience social disapproval. But when it comes to our own relationships, both men and women prefer someone their own age, but are open to someone 10-15 years their junior or senior.
In adulthood, for instance, a 3-year age gap is fairly standard. As a teenager, however, there is a stark difference between a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old. In adulthood, these small numbers are usually not considered an issue. Even 5-7 years usually get by without a second glance.
At 13 you can legally date anyone of any age. The same is true of any other age dating any other age. There is no law anywhere that prohibits dating between age-groups.
A 13-year-old can date an 18-year-old if the relationship involves no sexual contact. However, a legal adult cannot have sexual relations with a minor. That means if the dating relationship turned sexual, it would be illegal, and the 18-year-old could face legal consequences for sexual relations with a minor.
You are now in control of your life. The law says you are an adult and you don't need your parents' permission to do anything. You can: be taken to the adult courts if you break the law.
Juvenile detention in Western Australia is served at Banksia Hill Detention Centre in Canning Vale. You will not be sent to an adult prison until you are aged 18 or over. However, a young person can apply to go to an adult prison at 16 if they are serving a sentence of detention.
No, it is generally not illegal to simply be in a non-sexual relationship with a minor. However, just because it is not illegal to date someone underage does not mean that everything in the relationship is permissible. Some non-sexual conduct that is common in dating relationships may still be illegal.
A parent is deemed unfit in circumstances where the child's physical or psychological wellbeing is at risk. In all other circumstances, the court aims to have both parents meaningfully involved in the child's life. The court will consider both the histories and presence of: Child abuse; Substance abuse; or.
Generally, where parents are in bitter custody disputes, then overnight time may not commence until the child is around 2 and a half or 3 years of age and this will usually be one overnight with a view to gradually increase it.
In the end, courts can force people to do things, but they can't force people to want to do things. The answer to the question, therefore, must still be: no, the courts cannot force a parent to see a child.
Japan Panel Calls for Raising Minimum Age of Sexual Consent to 16. Tokyo, Oct. 24 (Jiji Press)--A Japanese government panel on Monday proposed raising the minimum age of sexual consent, stipulated under the criminal code, to 16 from the current 13.
No, it is generally not illegal to simply be in a non-sexual relationship with a minor. However, just because it is not illegal to date someone underage does not mean that everything in the relationship is permissible.