Australian witchcraft laws go up in smoke

The Australian reports Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls said the repeal of the state\'s Vagrancy Act, which contained the anti-witchcraft laws, was about bringing legislation into the 21st century. ‘Gone are the days when witchcraft and fortune-telling posed a threat to law and order, so the offences will now go up in a puff of smoke.’ He said only one person had ever been charged with witchcraft in Victoria, and the charge was dismissed. However, a number of the offences in the Vagrancy Act, such as loitering with intent, will reappear in the Summary Offences Act and the Crime Act. Full report in The Australian