Speeches
Thursday, 02 October 2025
Reception to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Decriminalisation of Homosexuality in SA
Rod and I warmly welcome you to Government House.
This evening we gather to celebrate the 50th anniversary of South Australia becoming the first Australian state to decriminalise homosexuality - a landmark achievement in our journey toward a more just and inclusive society.
I was eleven years old when Dr George Duncan drowned in the River Torrens in May 1972, thrown to his death in what would become a catalyst for profound legal and social change.
I recall a strong sense of the significance of the reform movement that followed, as well as the advocacy efforts across our community that ultimately led to the passage of decriminalising legislation in September 1975.
As I said in my foreword to the program of commemorative activities: the law had changed, but attitudes were still catching up.
This reality I understood more fully in the early 1980s while at the University of Adelaide, where one of my male best friends was openly gay and a persuasive advocate for gay rights.
I only realised some years later how courageous he was then, given the context of the time.
This anniversary reminds us why reform was even needed.
To paraphrase Simon Royal’s article, commissioned for the anniversary: the law of the land was destroying innocent people by punishing them for who they were. And because illegality bred invisibility, fear, and violence.
South Australia's leadership in 1975 marked a defining moment not just for our state, but for the nation.
It demonstrated that parliament could legislate for dignity, safety, and equality, even when public opinion remained divided.
The reforms that followed across Australia owe a debt to the courage of the government of the day – some members of which are here this evening - who understood that justice could not wait.
I note with deep appreciation the work of the Premier's Commemorative Committee, chaired by the Hon Ian Hunter, which has coordinated a remarkable program of activities throughout this anniversary year.
I congratulate the Committee on engaging more than fifty state institutions and community groups, producing a comprehensive program booklet, commissioning historical research, and facilitating events.
These include parliamentary displays, the historical re-enactment of the passage of the Bill through parliament, earlier today, as well as public forums.
The commemorative activities offer South Australians, particularly younger generations, the opportunity to learn about past injustices, understand the hard-won nature of legal reform, and reflect on the ongoing work required to achieve true equality.
I thank academics, LGBTQIA+ advocacy organisations, support services, arts organisations, and community groups represented here today for your exceptional contributions to this commemorative year and to the broader cause of equality and inclusion.
Your dedication ensures that the stories of reform are preserved, that connections between generations and communities are strengthened, and that momentum for continued progress is sustained.
It is a sobering reflection that practices such as conversion therapy were not banned in South Australia until fifty years after the decriminalisation itself - a reminder that discrimination and legal barriers persist even in the twenty-first century.
As Governor, I encourage all stakeholders to continue building an inclusive, harmonious community where the rich diversity of South Australia's people is respected, valued, and celebrated.
The path from 1975 to today is marked by considerable progress, yet the journey continues.
It is a journey we must undertake together, learning from our past and with determination to create a future worthy of all South Australians.