Sex crimes Qld: Deb Frecklington to progress reforms for ‘good character’ defence

The Queensland government will reform the use of good character tests in rape and sexual assault sentencing, after the Opposition highlighted damning statistics.

Opposition spokeswoman for women Shannon Fentiman on Sunday. Picture: Annette Dew

• Editor’s view: Put politics aside

The Queensland government will reform the use of good character tests in rape and sexual assault sentencing, after the Opposition highlighted damning statistics.

The Sunday Mail reported the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council had found 92 per cent of District Court rape cases in the 12 months to June 2023 relied on a character reference, and good character was given weight in over a quarter of cases.

Opposition spokeswoman for women Shannon Fentiman said on Sunday: “We now have these recommendations that were handed to the Attorney-General (Deb Frecklington) in December.

“It is about time (Premier) David Crisafulli and Deb Frecklington acted on these recommendations, and they can do so.”

Ms Frecklington said the government would progress work to reform the consideration of good character tests.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington

“I would like to acknowledge the work undertaken by the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council looking at the sentencing of sexual violence, including good character evidence,” she said.

“This is an important issue, and I have already met with the chair of the council and instructed the Department of Justice to commence work in this space.”

Asked why Labor was only now moving on these recommendations after they were made in December, Ms Fentiman said: “We recognised that there was an imbalance when it came to rape and sexual assault cases in our criminal justice system, and we needed to put the focus back on victims.

“So we did act (when in government), we set up (the Women’s Safety Justice Taskforce).

“We then referred this matter to QSAT, and this has been sitting on the Attorney-General’s desk since December.”