New government sex ads demonstrate how young Aussies can ask and receive consent

A new government campaign has revealed how young Australians can ask each other for sexual consent as new laws are set to be introduced.

The series of short clips will target young people between the ages of 16 and 24 and will air on social media platforms and dating apps.

The NSW government has released the campaign ahead of new affirmative consent laws due to come into force on June 1.

The new laws require each sexual partner to say or do something to communicate that they consent and were passed last November.

Attorney-General Mark Speakman said the affirmative model of consent would see partners in NSW engage in ‘mutual and ongoing communication’.

The short clips show couples in passionate embraces pausing to ask for consent before proceeding, or deciding to stop.

In one of the short clips, a woman asks her partner if she can kiss her, who agrees.

In another video, a young couple at a party begin kissing before the man stops and asks his partner if she wants to keep going.

The woman pauses before telling him she would rather go back to the party.

Each of the educational clips use the tagline ‘That’s how you do it’ to reference how  young people can ask for consent.

The NSW government describes sexual consent as when people freely and voluntarily agree to engage in sexual activity.

The campaign explains there are situations in which people can’t give consent – even if they say yes – including if they are heavily affected by drugs or alcohol, unconscious or asleep or manipulated or threatened into consenting.

It also points out that consent can be withdrawn at any time, and as soon as this happens the sexual activity must stop.

Some body language cues that a sexual partner may be uncomfortable can be; tensing up, freezing, or moving away, the campaign explains.

‘Look at body language and non-verbal cues to make sure they’re comfortable. Just because someone isn’t saying no, doesn’t mean they’re saying yes,’ it states.

The website also encourages youths to continue checking in with their partner, ask directly for consent and remain aware of their body language.

The Attorney-General said that in the six months since the laws had passed, police and law courts had become familiar with the reforms.