Last updated 29 August 2016

Section 323A of the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld) (Criminal Code) deals with female genital mutilation.

It is an offence punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment to perform female genital mutilation on another person. Consent by the person being mutilated is not a defence. Sexual reassignment procedures and medical procedures for genuine therapeutic purposes are not caught by the provision. Body piercing is not intended to be caught by this section.

Section 323B of the Criminal Code makes it an offence to take or to arrange to take a child under 18 years of age from Queensland with the intention of having female genital mutilation performed on the child. The maximum punishment for this offence is 14 years imprisonment.