Government to put $14.7 million into sexual violence preventive programs

Australia will dramatically rethink how the criminal justice system responds to sexual assaults and prevent the courts process further harming victims under a huge new investment.

Founder of Teach us Consent Chanel Contos approves of the inquiry. Picture NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Australia will dramatically rethink how the criminal justice system responds to sexual assaults and prevent the courts process further harming victims under a $14.7 million investment into preventive programs and a sweeping review of current laws.

Rampant sexual violence, inconsistent laws and chronic under reporting of crimes has prompted the Albanese Government to deliver $6.5m over four years to work with states and territories to strengthen and harmonise laws, and launch an Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence.

News Corp can exclusively reveal the upcoming May 9 budget will also finance an expert advisory group to support the inquiry, while $8.2m to design and deliver multiple small-scale trials of primary prevention and early intervention to prevent sexual harm and violence.

One in five Australian women have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, but only 13 per cent reported their most recent assault to the police.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said for the women who do report, attrition rates during the legal process were “high” and prosecution rates were “low”.

“And conviction rates are even lower,” he said.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said attrition rates during the legal process were “high” and prosecution rates were “low”. (Photo by Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

Mr Dreyfus said Australia must give victims and survivors “confidence” the justice system would deliver “equitable and consistent outcomes”, while minimising the risk of re-traumatisation through the justice process.

“Seeking justice should not add to the trauma experienced by victims and survivors,” he said.

“Nor should they be forced to navigate different legal processes and face different justice outcomes based on which state or territory they live in.”

The funding has been welcomed by advocates, who have also warned tangible outcomes at the end of the inquiry process will be the measure of its success.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus wants to restore confidence in the justice system. (Photo by Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

Teach Us Consent founder and advocatwe Chanel Contos told News Corp the inquiry and expert group were welcome as the current legal system in Australia had “essentially decriminalised sexual assault”.

“While it’s a tremendous challenge to truly rectify the faults in our legal systems for victims of sexual assault, legislation is a very powerful tool for setting community standards and providing public education about topics like consent,” she said.

Ms Contos said funding an inquiry and expert advisory group, but another to “actually implement the findings”.

“I am hopeful that with commitment from leaders around the country, tangible reform comes from this,” she said.

Chanel Contos is hoping meaningful change is just around the corner. Picture: Liam Kidston

Queensland Sexual Assault Network head Angela Lynch said the peak body “fully supports” a ministerial-level roundtable to address sexual violence and initiatives to strengthen assault laws and prevent harm.

“We need … (to) consider new ways and new options for achieving just outcomes for all – victim-survivors, the accused, and the community as a whole,” she said.

“All ideas must be on the table.”

Ms Lynch said no “fair and just” system should “routinely allow for a victim-survivor’s own trauma to be exacerbated, exploited and used against them to the point of destruction”.

Originally published as Government to put $14.7 million into sexual violence preventive programs