Can a 16 year old date a 12 year old?

Going on dates isnt per se illegal, but at your age, there are a large number of things that ARE illegal and could lead to him facing felony charges, even if hes only charged as a juvenile.

Is it illegal for a 16 and 12 year old to date?

In New South Wales, the age of consent is fixed by law at 16 for both heterosexual and homosexual sex. It is important to understand that it is not a crime for children under 16 to have sex! The law criminalises people who have sex with under-16-year-olds.