New laws will come into effect in New South Wales today (1st January 208) which will change the definition of consent in rape cases.
Under the changes rape will be defined as when there is not free and voluntary agreement to sexual intercourse.
Premier Morris Iemma says some outdated ideas about consent have been removed from the legislation.
“The change is to remove the old fashioned ideas about consent being given ‘reluctantly’ or after a ‘deal of persuasion’,” he said.
“We’re getting rid of that because they’re just old fashioned, outdated ideas about consent. [The new laws] make it very clear that the consent has to be free and voluntary.”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/01/2129682.htm?section=australia