Laws on assault and stalking
Part of the Crime topic
Understand the laws on assault and stalking in Queensland.
In short
These laws and rules are about assault, sexual assault and stalking offences in Queensland.
Use these rules to understand:
- what you must and cannot do
- the penalties for committing these crimes.
Assault, sexual assault, and stalking are serious offences in Queensland under Schedule 1 of the Criminal Code, Criminal Code Act 1899.
There are serious consequences for breaking the law. Maximum penalties include 10 years in prison for aggravated stalking, 10 years in prison for aggravated assault, life imprisonment for rape.
You must
To comply with the law in Queensland you must:
- Respect the personal boundaries and consent of others.
- Not engage in violent, threatening or inappropriate contact or behaviour towards another person without their consent.
- Report any knowledge of these crimes to police.
- Keep evidence such as messages or records of incidents if you’re being stalked.
You cannot
To comply with the law in Queensland you cannot:
- Physically harm, use a weapon against, threaten or intimidate another person.
- Touch another person inappropriately or force them into doing or seeing sexual acts without their consent (sexual assault and rape).
- Have sex with another person without their consent (rape).
- Have sex with another person who is under 12 years old (rape).
- Engage in stalking behaviours, such as following, loitering or repeatedly contacting someone without their consent.