Dominic Perrottet decision that will change NSW forever

Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced a huge $64.3 million investment that should change a dark part of NSW forever.

EXCLUSIVE

Sexual abuse survivors in NSW are a step closer to being able to access a court system that drastically reduces trauma.

In November, news.com.au launched Justice Shouldn’t Hurt, a campaign that called on the NSW Government to make court less traumatic for children involved in sexual abuse matters.

More than 67,000 people signed the Justice Shouldn’t Hurt petition for change.

On Wednesday, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the NSW Government would invest $64.3 million to expand the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Program (CSOEP), from July 1 to every District Court and Police District in the state.

The announcement means all young people who have been impacted by sexual assault or abuse will be eligible to access the program.

This represents the first major win for Justice Shouldn’t Hurt since it was launched in November 2022, with Albury sisters Pippa Milthorpe, 17, and Rose Milthorpe, 14, sharing their harrowing story of the NSW court system.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced $64.3 million to expand the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Program to all of NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Read

Mr Perrottet said he felt compelled to act after reading Pippa and Rose’s story on news.com.au.

“To hear about the trauma and the distress that Pippa and Rose went through, and the entire family, it clearly had a significant impact on them,” Mr Perrottet said.

“As soon as I heard about it, and importantly, that there was already a solution there — that we were actually running these programs in two locations in NSW — as soon as I read it, [I thought] we’re going to fix this, and we’re going to roll it out so that no other child ever has to go through what Pippa and Rose went through.”

The announcement follows an investigation conducted by news.com.au in November 2022, which revealed that only four per cent of NSW children lived in areas where they were able to access the program. Not a single one of the 30 Local Government Areas with the highest rates of child sexual abuse per capita were able to access the program, which has been operational in Sydney and Newcastle only.

The expansion will be rolled out across NSW from July 1, 2023.

Under the program, children are able to prerecord their evidence and are provided with witness intermediaries to assist them during police interviews and hearings. This lessens the trauma of facing their abuser in court and helps reduce the length of proceedings. Specially trained judges, with expertise in child sexual abuse, are also used in the program to help facilitate greater justice.

Pippa and Rose, who were sexually abused as children, revealed their distressing court experience to news.com.au, after obtaining special court permission to speak out under their real identities last year.

That process cost about $45,000 and was supported by Marque Lawyers, news.com.au and the #LetUsSpeak campaign, which you can donate to here.

Sisters Rose and Pippa Milthorpe spoke out about their abuse in a bid to change the NSW court system. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“My experience with the court system was quite traumatic,” said Pippa Milthorpe last year.

“I was under questioning for five days. I couldn’t understand half the language that was used.

“It was very scary, especially as an 11-year-old talking to mature adults that you’ve never met before about something that personal.”

The sisters, who were five and eight when they first reported to police, were forced to wait over two years for their day in court.

“Those huge delays are not good for the memory. And then they use that against you to suggest you are a liar or making it up,” Pippa said.

Today, Pippa said she was “proud” of what had been achieved through the campaign.

“My little sister had dreams of making a change so we started small, with family and friends and as our small project grew, a bigger one came along,” she said.

“The Justice Shouldn’t Hurt campaign allowed us to be real and raw and tell our stories in a place of protection and empowerment. This is why we did the campaign, to be bigger than ourselves and create change.

“The support we were surrounded by was so heartwarming, to know that people genuinely cared and were just as passionate as us. We will carry the dedication and hard work of these people with us.”

Rose said she was relieved to know that the system was finally being improved.

“I’ve never felt so proud of myself and knowing that there’s so much support fills my heart because it shows that people care,” she said.

“Pippa and I both wanted to do this campaign so children don’t have to go through what us [and] many other kids and adults had to go through.”

Mum Michelle, Rose, older sister Maggie, Pippa and Dad Brent Milthorpe are delighted by the $64.3 million investment into the NSW court system. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

After news.com.au broke Rose and Pippa’s story, a number of experts joined the campaign. It also had the backing from Rape & Sexual Assault Research & Advocacy, Bravehearts, Full Stop Foundation and No More Fake Smiles.

Then, in December, a second survivor, Annie Jones and her mother Tracey Morris added their voices to the campaign, following Annie’s own horrendous experience with the criminal justice system.

Child sexual abuse survivor Annie Jones spoke out her own traumatic experience of the NSW court system. Picture: Matt Jelonek/news.com.au

Professor Judy Cashmore who independently evaluated the program in 2018 found it had significant success in reducing rates of trauma and stress for child sexual abuse victims, and this in turn could lead to them giving better evidence, ultimately resulting in more convictions or guilty pleas.

“The extension of the witness intermediary scheme is an important step in providing greater equity and fairness for child witnesses in child sexual abuse matters across the state – to help witnesses give their best evidence,” Professor Cashmore said.

“It should be available to all those who need it – wherever they live, and to be culturally appropriate, especially for Aboriginal children and witnesses.”

Rose and Pippa’s father, Brent, described today’s announcement as “a sensational outcome and something that’s needed to take place,” adding that he hopes it assists the “disadvantaged, remote and overwhelmed.”

“Our children wanted to make the process easier for the next victims,” he said. “I hope my children find peace within themselves now.”

Mum Michelle said she hoped the program could be expanded Australia-wide.

“We welcome the news today that the program is going to be expanded for all children in NSW. This is about equity and a just way for children to participate in the process,” Michelle said.

“We commend the NSW government for this step today and hope that they continue to be guided by the academics and advocates that offer evidence based, trauma informed recommendations. We are also hopeful that other jurisdictions look at this model as one that can be adopted in their own states, where needed.”

A list of all of the locations of District Courts in NSW where the program will exist can be found here.

Nina Funnell is a Walkley Award winning freelance journalist and the creator of the Justice Shouldn’t Hurt and #LetUsSpeak campaigns. Click here to donate.