Nation-first redress for people convicted of past homosexuality offences is set to be formally approved by a state parliament, with advocates urging others to follow suit.
Tasmania in 1997 became the final Australian jurisdiction to decriminalise homosexuality, and it was also illegal to cross-dress in the state until 2001.
The state government in 2017 apologised for the criminalisation of homosexuality and passed legislation for the expungement of historical offences.
On Thursday, legislation to set up a redress scheme for people who had been charged or convicted of homosexuality or cross-dressing is expected to pass the final hurdle in Tasmania's parliament.
Equality Tasmania's Rodney Croome, who was part of the campaign to decriminalise homosexuality, said redress was a symbol of how much Tasmania had changed.
"It was a really difficult and polarising debate that lasted for a decade and involved the UN, the federal government, the High Court and anti-gay rallies," he said.
"It is really heartwarming for me that Tasmania has moved from (that) time ... to being the first state to provide financial redress to victims of those old laws."
People who were charged are eligible to receive $15,000, people who were convicted $45,000 and those fined or jailed $75,000.
Independent MP Ruth Forrest said the scheme, the first of its kind nationally, showed parliament was serious about working towards healing.
"The shadows cast by these laws are long and dark," she told the upper house on Wednesday.
"While you can never fully compensate anyone … this does go some way to recognise the shame and trauma."
The legislation to enact the scheme is expected to be formally passed by the upper house during a final reading on Thursday.
It passed the lower house in September 2024.
Human rights law expert Paula Gerber said about 100 people had been convicted in Tasmania of the crime of homosexuality.
The legislation was a seminal moment for Australia and one that should be followed in other states and territories, she said.
"We've admitted that those laws were a mistake. Now it's time to show how genuinely sorry we are that we treated our citizens this way," Professor Gerber said.
Professor Gerber and Mr Croome said they would campaign for the expansion of redress to include family members of affected men who have died.
"Most of the people affected ... are quite elderly, many have died," Mr Croome said.
"My regret is the fact this hasn't passed sooner. But I know there are men out there ... for whom this will make a difference."
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