Opposition justice spokeswoman Lara Giddings said the new legislation would bring Tasmania into line with other states and increase penalties for sexual violations.

“If you are a woman who is raped by means other than penile penetration, that is still a serious and traumatic violation yet it is not considered rape under the Tasmanian Criminal Code,” she said.

At present, such a crime would be classed as an aggravated sexual assault, which carries a lesser penalty than rape.

“Police and sexual assault services in Tasmania continue to see torturous behaviour where objects are effectively used for rape yet it is not considered rape,” Ms Giddings said.

“It is still a non-consensual act, it is still a violent sexual act and it is still a serious abuse.

“The time is right to change that extremely narrow definition and give our courts stronger guidelines.

“Those guidelines should be absolutely clear in upholding the fundamental right of every Tasmanian to make decisions around sexual behaviour.”

Aggravated sexual assault sentences may attract seven months’ jail time while rape convictions will result in multiple years in jail.

Current Tasmanian law suggests that it is not possible for a woman to be charged with raping a man and the new bill will address that issue, Ms Giddings said.