Mick Fuller leads open conversation on sexual consent in NSW

Gladys Berejiklian has praised Mick Fuller for leading a public conversation on consent but stopping short of endorsing use of the app he suggested.

Gladys Berejiklian has praised top cop Mick Fuller for leading a public conversation on consent, while stopping short of offering support of his criticised idea to use app technology as a record keeper for people engaging in consensual sexual encounters.

Police Commissioner Fuller, who declared on Thursday that consent can no longer be implied, said he was comfortable if people panned his idea for an app and that he wanted to start a conversation about the importance of the issue.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller wants to lead a public conversation about sexual consent. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Mr Fuller said his primary concern was the exponentially rising rate of sexual assaults on   women and the sheer difficulty of recording ­convictions.

“It is more about starting the conversation about what’s acceptable … We need our kids to have a better understanding; we need our juries to have a better understanding,” he said.

Ms Berejiklian said she was “very pleased the conversation is being had”.

“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,” she said.

Ms Berejiklian did not rule out curriculum changes in schools to teach consent but also stopped short of committing to the idea.

“This is an issue that requires a multifaceted response. Respect is the most important thing,” she said.

“You can teach respect but you’ve got to see examples of respect as well.

“There are a lot of cultural issues we have to deal with in this regard. This will take time for us to be fully confident we have a society which ­respects men and women equally and treats men and women equally — and we have a way to go.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian praised Mr Fuller for leading the conversation but stopped short of endorsing an app for consent. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Bianca De Marchi

Women’s Safety NSW chief executive Hayley Foster said any law change around consent must be done “in tandem with reforms to criminal procedure and evidence rules which make it safer and less traumatising for victims”.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle were wary of the idea of a consent app, and while they commended Mr Fuller for leading a conversation about consent they argued there were better ways of protecting women.

“Technology cannot be a replacement for respect and dec­ency. This would likely only be adopted by those doing the right thing,” NSW Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes said.

Liberal Wentworth MP Dave Sharma sounded a similar note.

“Ultimately the issue of consent is tied up with respect. I don’t think it can be simplified into an app,” he said.

Mr Sharma, whose electorate is home to a number of private schools embroiled in controversy over allegations of sexual assault by male students, added that he was concerned that parents were relying too much on schools to teach respect and consent.

Federal Labor MP Tanya Plibersek noted the danger that consent is not a one-time thing: “The fact that you’ve signed up in the beginning, doesn’t mean that you’re up for everything that your partner suggests. You can withdraw consent.”