NSW Police Commissioner praised for ‘leadership’ on consent discussion

Mick Fuller’s consent app idea has been widely panned but the Premier has praised the state’s top cop for “taking a leadership position.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian commended NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller for “taking a leadership position” in a public conversation on consent.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph Comm Fuller floated the idea of a check-in style app for couples to consent to sexual activity.

The idea was panned by young women and legal experts who argued that consent could change quickly, even “second by second”.

Ms Berejiklian said she did not want to give an opinion on the concept of a consent app and said she wanted time to digest the idea.

“I’m very pleased the conversation is being had,” she said.

Gladys Berejiklian didn’t want to give an opinion on the app idea. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Mick Fuller made the comments in The Daily Telegraph on Thursday. Picture: Damian Shaw

“Can I commend the police commissioner who for many years before he was the police commissioner did many things to advance how sexual assault victims were treated,” Ms Berejiklian said.

She said Attorney General Mark Speakman would “very shortly” put proposals around consent to the government.

“These are the conversations we need to have. I respect that the police commissioner is taking a leadership position to have the conversation,” she said.

Pressed by reporters to give her opinion on the idea of the app, she said: “If you think consent is a conversation that’s going to last 24 hours you’re mistaken. If you’re serious about looking at these issues give people the opportunity to absorb and digest what is being put forward.”

“Let’s have the conversation and let’s do it properly. I’m not going to be forced into saying things one way or the other,” she said.

“The NSW government has had a lot of things put forward to us and these are conversations we need to have.”

Asked if consent should be taught in schools, Ms Berejiklian said “you can teach respect but you’ve got to see examples of it”.

“There are a lot of cultural issues we have to deal with in this regard. This will take time for us,” she said.

She added: “I think we have a way to go”.

Comm Fuller clarified on Thursday that the app may never be created but that it would not mean the idea is a failure.

He said it was aimed at generating conversation around consent.

“I think it started the debate and people have mixed emotions around it, for mine, the app would keep people out of the justice system,” he said.

“The journey in the justice system is such a difficult one for victims... we know it is a traumatic event and we have to explain that to the victims before they go on the journey.

“We know the percentage of success we are having is low.”

He added, he hoped the criminality around consent was as ingrained in society as drink driving.

“30 years about people used to this (drink driving) was ok, and progressively we have seen people grab the keys and say ‘that’s not right’,” he said.

Originally published as NSW Police Commissioner praised for ‘leadership’ on consent discussion