Can a 24 year old date a 15 year old without parents consent in Australia?

Answer 1

"Dating" is a very broad term. Basically the answer depends on whether sexual activity is involved or whether it is simply encountering people in social situations.

Broadly speaking, under Australian law, a parent does not have a legally enforceable right to prevent their child from meeting or associating with whoever they want. They do, however, have considerable moral authority, and disobeying one's parents wishes' may not result in legal consequences but it could have very serious consequences for your family life in general.

The age of consent for most people in most circumstances in Australia is 16. Anybody below the age of 16 cannot legally consent to sexual intercorse (the law differs from state to state on what other acts outside of sexual intercorse are included within consent. In some cases it may be higher than 16). Anyone who engages in sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16, regardless of their consent or otherwise, and regardless of their own age, is committing a crime.

The legal age of consent has nothing to do with parents' wishes one way or the other. A person who is under the age of consent is off limits for sexual activity in all circumstances.

To summarise - parents cannot use legal methods, like the courts or police, to stop you from meeting or associating with any person. They can however use considerable social pressure and disobeying their wishes can have very serious consequences. There are also very serious legal consequences for anyone who engages in sexual activity with someone who is under the legal age of consent, which in most circumstances is 16 or above.