Can a 14 year old date a 17 year old in Australia?

Asked by: Neil Terry  |  Last update: July 17, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (30 votes)

Yes, a 14-year-old can date a 17-year-old in Australia, as there are no laws prohibiting teenagers of these ages from being in a romantic relationship. However, there are very strict laws regarding sexual activity.

Can a 17 year old date a 14 year old in Australia?

Individuals under the age of 16 can consent to sexual activity if the other party is no more than two years older (the “close-in-age” exception). Once a person is 16 or over, there is no restriction on the age of their consenting partner, provided there is no relationship of care, authority or supervision.

Is 17 still a minor in Australia?

Sexual consent laws

The age of sexual consent across Australia is 16 years of age, except for Tasmania and South Australia, where it's 17. Being able to give consent means you can say yes or no willingly.

Can a 15 year old kiss a 17 year old in NSW?

In New South Wales, a person can legally consent to sexual activity once they are 16 years of age. A person who is under 16 years of age cannot lawfully consent to sexual activity, whether it be kissing, touching or sexual intercourse.

What is the age limit for 14 year olds to date?

This means that if the partner is 5 years or older than the 14 or 15 year old, any sexual activity is a criminal offence. There is also a "close in age" exception for 12 and 13 year olds.

Is it legal for an 18 year old to date a 16 year old?

40 related questions found

Would it be illegal for an 18-year-old to date a 17 year old?

It is not illegal for an 18-year-old to date a 17-year-old, as laws regulate sexual conduct, not dating. However, in many US jurisdictions, sexual activity can be considered statutory rape if one person is under 18, even if consensual. "Romeo and Juliet" laws or close-in-age exemptions often apply.

What is the 37% rule in dating?

The 37% rule in dating is a mathematical formula (optimal stopping theory) suggesting that you should reject the first 37% of your potential romantic partners to establish a benchmark for what you want. After this, you should commit to the next person who is better than everyone you previously dated, which maximizes your chances of finding the best partner.

Is a 3 year age gap ok for dating?

A 3-year age gap is generally not considered bad in dating and is often seen as a normal, manageable difference, especially among adults. The success of the relationship depends more on shared maturity, life stages, and mutual respect rather than the number itself.

Is 14 the age of consent?

The age of consent in California is 18 years old. This means that anyone under the age of 18 is considered a minor and cannot legally consent to sexual activity. If someone engages in sexual activity with a minor under the age of 18, they can be charged with statutory rape.

Is it illegal for a 17 year old to date a 13 year old in the UK?

It is a criminal offence for anyone who is 16 or older to have any kind of sexual contact with someone aged 13, 14 or 15. It is also a criminal offence for both girls and boys aged 13, 14 and 15 to have consensual sex with anyone else aged 13, 14 or 15.

How do you say "hi" in Australian?

The most iconic way to say hi in Australia is "G'day" (short for "Good day"). It is often paired with "mate" (e.g., "G'day, mate!"), which is an informal term of friendliness used for almost anyone.

What is the poorest state in Australia?

Anyone who's spent time in Hobart recently will know it's a vibrant place, with cranes on the skyline, construction underway and plenty of tourist attractions. But despite the economic uptick of recent years, Tasmania is still the poorest Australian state.

Can a 17 year old go out with a 21 year old?

Is it illegal for me to date someone older? It's not illegal for you to date someone older. It is illegal for someone over 18 to have a sexual relationship or sexual activity with someone under 16, or under 18 if they are in a position of responsibility like a teacher or a sports coach.

What is the legal dating age in Austria?

All Member States establish a minimum age for sexual consent. Most Member States set this between 14 and 16 years. The lowest minimum age is 14 years, set in seven Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. The highest is set at 18 years – in Malta.

Are you a minor at 17 in Australia?

About legal age in Australia

As your child grows up and becomes more independent, you might be wondering how old they need to be before they can do certain things. In Australia, you're considered to be an adult when you turn 18 years old.

Can a 14 year old sleep with a 16 year old?

In NSW, consent to a sexual activity with a person who is under 16 can be a defence to sexual crimes if both people are 14 or over, and the difference in age is not more than 2 years. It is a crime for a person to do a sexual act with another person who is under 14 years old.

Can a 14 year old marry a 21 year old?

There is no federal law governing the legal age of marriage in the U.S. Laws vary from state to state, a patchwork of age limits from 15 to 18 that can be circumvented through various loopholes regarding parental consent or a judges's decision. Seven states — including California — have no minimum age at all.

Is 17 and 20 an OK age gap?

A 17 and 20 age gap is commonly viewed as a "grey area." While a three-year difference is minor in adulthood, it can represent different life stages (high school vs. college/working), and legal implications regarding the age of consent vary significantly by location.

What is the 3 6 9 rule for dating?

But it does provide some rough guidelines as to how soon may be too soon to make long-term commitments and how long may be too long to stick with a relationship. Each of the three numbers—three, six, and nine—stands for the month that a different common stage of a relationship tends to end.

Is 35 too old to have a third baby?

After age 35, there's a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications that might lead to a C-section delivery. The risk of chromosomal conditions is higher. Babies born to older mothers have a higher risk of certain chromosomal conditions, such as Down syndrome. The risk of pregnancy loss is higher.

What does ggg mean on a dating site?

On a dating site, GGG stands for Good, Giving, and Game. Coined by sex-advice columnist Dan Savage, it is used to describe someone who strives to be an ideal, sex-positive partner.

Who usually falls in love first?

According to recent research, men tend to fall in love and profess those feelings faster than women. While popular culture suggests women are faster to fall in love, studies indicate men often fall in love about one month earlier and are more likely to express it first.

Is 18 and 20 a bad age gap?

No, a two-year gap between 18 and 20 is not considered a bad or significant age gap. Both parties are legally adults, and they are generally in similar life stages, such as college or early career, making this pairing common and normal.