❓ In 2000, the WA government stated it had no plans to introduce specific legislation against female genital mutilation (FGM), believing existing laws sufficed. They were unaware of reliable data on FGM incidence in WA but would reconsider if evidence showed specific legislation reduced FGM.
AnsweredQoN 294Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Government plan to introduce legislation dealing with female genital mutilation? (2) If not, why not? (3) Is the Government aware of any incidences of female genital mutilation taking place in Western Australia? Answered on 12 September 2000 The Minister
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 September 2000
Response time
34 days
(1) No. However, if information clearly illustrating that specific legislation reduces the incidence of Female Genital Mutilation, then the Government would be prepared to give further consideration to introducing the same in this State. (2) I am advised that the Attorney General's view is that the current law criminalises the practice. Therefore an overlapping specific offence is not only unnecessary, but would add to the general criminal law in a way that runs counter to modern thinking about the purpose, structure and content of offences against the person. The provisions of the WA Criminal Code under which criminal charges could be laid include section 301 - unlawful wounding, section 306 - unlawful act to cause bodily harm and section 297 - unlawfully doing grievous bodily harm. (3) The Attorney General is unaware of the existence of any reliable data on the extent to which female genital mutilation occurs in Western Australia
(2) If not, why not? (3) Is the Government aware of any incidences of female genital mutilation taking place in Western Australia? Answered on 12 September 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) No. However, if information clearly illustrating that specific legislation reduces the incidence of Female Genital Mutilation, then the Government would be prepared to give further consideration to introducing the same in this State. (2) I am advised that the Attorney General's view is that the current law criminalises the practice. Therefore an overlapping specific offence is not only unnecessary, but would add to the general criminal law in a way that runs counter to modern thinking about the purpose, structure and content of offences against the person. The provisions of the WA Criminal Code under which criminal charges could be laid include section 301 - unlawful wounding, section 306 - unlawful act to cause bodily harm and section 297 - unlawfully doing grievous bodily harm. (3) The Attorney General is unaware of the existence of any reliable data on the extent to which female genital mutilation occurs in Western Australia
(3) Is the Government aware of any incidences of female genital mutilation taking place in Western Australia? Answered on 12 September 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) No. However, if information clearly illustrating that specific legislation reduces the incidence of Female Genital Mutilation, then the Government would be prepared to give further consideration to introducing the same in this State. (2) I am advised that the Attorney General's view is that the current law criminalises the practice. Therefore an overlapping specific offence is not only unnecessary, but would add to the general criminal law in a way that runs counter to modern thinking about the purpose, structure and content of offences against the person. The provisions of the WA Criminal Code under which criminal charges could be laid include section 301 - unlawful wounding, section 306 - unlawful act to cause bodily harm and section 297 - unlawfully doing grievous bodily harm. (3) The Attorney General is unaware of the existence of any reliable data on the extent to which female genital mutilation occurs in Western Australia
Answered on 12 September 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) No. However, if information clearly illustrating that specific legislation reduces the incidence of Female Genital Mutilation, then the Government would be prepared to give further consideration to introducing the same in this State. (2) I am advised that the Attorney General's view is that the current law criminalises the practice. Therefore an overlapping specific offence is not only unnecessary, but would add to the general criminal law in a way that runs counter to modern thinking about the purpose, structure and content of offences against the person. The provisions of the WA Criminal Code under which criminal charges could be laid include section 301 - unlawful wounding, section 306 - unlawful act to cause bodily harm and section 297 - unlawfully doing grievous bodily harm. (3) The Attorney General is unaware of the existence of any reliable data on the extent to which female genital mutilation occurs in Western Australia
(2) If not, why not? (3) Is the Government aware of any incidences of female genital mutilation taking place in Western Australia? Answered on 12 September 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) No. However, if information clearly illustrating that specific legislation reduces the incidence of Female Genital Mutilation, then the Government would be prepared to give further consideration to introducing the same in this State. (2) I am advised that the Attorney General's view is that the current law criminalises the practice. Therefore an overlapping specific offence is not only unnecessary, but would add to the general criminal law in a way that runs counter to modern thinking about the purpose, structure and content of offences against the person. The provisions of the WA Criminal Code under which criminal charges could be laid include section 301 - unlawful wounding, section 306 - unlawful act to cause bodily harm and section 297 - unlawfully doing grievous bodily harm. (3) The Attorney General is unaware of the existence of any reliable data on the extent to which female genital mutilation occurs in Western Australia
(3) Is the Government aware of any incidences of female genital mutilation taking place in Western Australia? Answered on 12 September 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) No. However, if information clearly illustrating that specific legislation reduces the incidence of Female Genital Mutilation, then the Government would be prepared to give further consideration to introducing the same in this State. (2) I am advised that the Attorney General's view is that the current law criminalises the practice. Therefore an overlapping specific offence is not only unnecessary, but would add to the general criminal law in a way that runs counter to modern thinking about the purpose, structure and content of offences against the person. The provisions of the WA Criminal Code under which criminal charges could be laid include section 301 - unlawful wounding, section 306 - unlawful act to cause bodily harm and section 297 - unlawfully doing grievous bodily harm. (3) The Attorney General is unaware of the existence of any reliable data on the extent to which female genital mutilation occurs in Western Australia
Answered on 12 September 2000 The Minister Replied: (1) No. However, if information clearly illustrating that specific legislation reduces the incidence of Female Genital Mutilation, then the Government would be prepared to give further consideration to introducing the same in this State. (2) I am advised that the Attorney General's view is that the current law criminalises the practice. Therefore an overlapping specific offence is not only unnecessary, but would add to the general criminal law in a way that runs counter to modern thinking about the purpose, structure and content of offences against the person. The provisions of the WA Criminal Code under which criminal charges could be laid include section 301 - unlawful wounding, section 306 - unlawful act to cause bodily harm and section 297 - unlawfully doing grievous bodily harm. (3) The Attorney General is unaware of the existence of any reliable data on the extent to which female genital mutilation occurs in Western Australia
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