The relevant U.S. federal law is
[18 USC 2423 (b)] which mentions the age of 18 but also requires that
[18 USC Chapter 109A] be violated. The only relevant prohibition of consentual sex with minors in that chapter is
[18 USC 2243(a)] which gives 16 as the age of consent and also mentions the 4-year minimum age difference. --
AxelBoldt
Mentioning Australia, article says:
- most with an exception for partners within two years of age of each other
Maybe most do, but the most populous one, New South Wales (where I live), it doesn't. Nor do I think Commonwealth "child sex tourism" law (i.e. age of consent law based on nationality jurisdiction) does. (IIRC, Australia doesn't have federal laws in this area, like the U.S. does, because all Australian territories are legally assimilated to the ACT, which is self-governing and hence makes its own laws.) OTOH, the Model Criminal Code Law Officers Committee has proposed one for the whole of Australia, but judging by the public reaction to it in the past, I have strong doubts that its proposals on reform of the criminal law relating to sexual offences will every be implemented. --
SJK
- Victoria does. I think the Australian state laws are sufficiently different to make any comment other than "laws vary somewhat from state to state, usually around 16 with some exceptions" useless. --Robert Merkel
except that, IIRC, in at least two states (Queensland and some other one), the age of consent is higher: 17 or 18. Maybe we should just provide state by state info? (I'm sure the Americans will do so for each U.S. state, if they haven't done already...) -- SJK
- Let's do so, then. Maybe this calls for a subpage. --Robert Merkel
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