The QLD letter which shocked PM and will influence national plan on women’s safety

A horrifying detail in a handwritten note sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison from a Queensland woman will influence a new national plan.

A handwritten letter from a Queensland woman detailing her rape 60 years ago shocked the Prime Minister and will influence the national plan to end violence against women.

Scott Morrison directly referred to the letter, written by a 74-year-old who spoke of still suffering after she was sexually assaulted when she was just 14.

Speaking at the national summit on women’s safety, Mr Morrison said the letter was one of hundreds he had received from women sharing their experiences of violence, sexual assault and abuse.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke at the national summit on women’s safety. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“There was a handwritten letter from Queensland. It came in a small envelope and was written on lined, A4 paper in cursive script, running writing, finishing with a shocking reflection: ‘I was raped at 14. I am now 74 and still suffering’. 60 years. 60 years and not enough has changed.”

Mr Morrison said her experience showed the national plan needed to include a focus on helping women recover, as well as prevention and response.

“The next national plan must go a step further, to not only prevent, intervene and provide support in crisis but go beyond that,” he said.

“It must look to recovery over years, decades, 60 years as we heard,” he said.

Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who has been a strong advocate in preventing and responding to sexual violence, criticised Mr Morrison for sharing the correspondence.

“Scott (Morrison) has just finished his opening keynote address at the Women’s Safety Summit in which he appropriated private disclosures from survivors to leverage his own image,” Ms Tame posted to social media.

Mr Morrison referred to the alleged rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, without naming her, referring to “serious failings in this very workplace (Parliament)”.

Australian of the Year 2021 Grace Tame criticised Prime Minister Scott Morrison for appropriating private disclosures. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese, who said he was not invited to the summit, expressed disappointed the government did not legislate more than six of the 55 recommendations from the Respect@Work report, which looked into sexual harassment.

“This is a scourge on society and we need to do much better when it comes to ensuring women can feel safe in the workplace and in the home,” he said.

Respect@Work report author Kate Jenkins said the report only had 12 recommendations required federal legislation and the remaining six were still on the agenda.

The national summit will continue today with panels including Ms Tame, Australian Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw and Women’s Legal Service Queensland CEO Angela Lynch.

The first 12-year national plan to reduce violence against women and children was launched by the Gillard Government in 2010.