Rose and Pippa Milthorpe share powerful message all Australians must hear

Rose and Pippa Milthorpe made national headlines after sharing their stories as child sexual abuse survivors. Now, they have a powerful message for Australia.

Rose and Pippa Milthorpe, the two sisters who spearheaded the original #JusticeShouldntHurt campaign in 2022, have spoken out in enthusiastic support of Madeline Lane and the reboot of the now-national campaign.

Rose Milthorpe was just five years old when she and her sister Pippa, eight, reported sexual abuse by a family friend to their parents and the police.

It took two and a half years for the matter to get to court, during which time the sisters were banned from discussing the abuse with their parents or each other, as all were expected to give evidence.

Once in court, the girls were cross examined for days on end without their parents present. They were forced to relocate from Albury to Sydney and live out of suitcases in hotels for three months during the trial.

Rose Milthorpe was just five years old when she and her sister Pippa, eight, reported sexual abuse by a family friend to their parents and the police.

Then a juror fell asleep, forcing the entire jury to be released and a new jury to be empanelled, as the process began all over again.

As funding had run out, the girls’ support person could no longer be present.

Eventually, the accused pedophile was convicted of six counts of aggravated indecent assault against Pippa Milthorpe. He was acquitted of four charges of aggravated indecent assault in relation to Rose Milthorpe

Both girls said that despite the partial conviction, the court process left them “broken and traumatised”.

In 2022, after hearing their story, journalist Nina Funnell and news.com.au created the #JusticeShouldntHurt campaign to push for appropriate funding to expand a groundbreaking program, proven to make court less traumatic for child sexual abuse victims.

The sisters were then retraumatised by the courts. Picture: NewsWire/Monique Harmer

At the time, the program was only available in Newcastle and Sydney Downing Centre, meaning most children in regional, rural and remote areas could not access it.

More than 65,000 people signed our petition, and three months later, an additional $64.3 million was allocated to expand the Child Sexual Offence Evidence pilot scheme, as per the campaign demand.

It is now a permanent program, accessible across all of NSW.

Following on from that success, and the success of Funnell’s earlier #LetHerSpeak/#LetUsSpeak campaign, Funnell and news.com.au have now rebooted #JusticeShouldn’tHurt.

This time around, we are calling for protections and supports for all sexual assault and abuse complainants across Australia, regardless of their postcode, age, gender or ability level.

On Monday, news.com.au unveiled the newly-rebooted national campaign by sharing the story of Madeline Lane, a young woman who was raped by Boyd Kramer in his Sydney apartment.

Kramer was found guilty, but given no time in jail, while Ms Lane was left feeling humiliated, traumatised and distressed after she was asked more than 1500 questions including her favourite sexual position and underwear style during the trial.

Like Rose and Pippa Milthorpe, Madeline Lane also hails from Albury-Wodonga, a twin city settlement which straddles the Murray River and has a population of just 100,000.

“It’s a proud moment to see it go nationally, and that was the plan originally,” said Pippa Milthorpe, who is now 19.

“We started small, and it’s incredible to see it has turned into this.”

Rose, who is now 16, agrees.

“It’s insane, the fact there is so much support and you can feel it. It’s amazing,” she said.

The sisters – whose mother Michelle is now running for political office in the seat of Farrer – say they are also proud to see Madeline Lane, another strong woman, come out of Albury-Wodonga.

“Everyone speaking up is helping the next person,” said Pippa Milthorpe.

“It is a proud moment but it’s also a hard moment as it’s difficult to hear the other stories. But it’s exciting to see people getting behind us and our original campaign and making it something bigger and better for everyone.”

Support is pouring in for Madi Lane.

Rose wants Madeline and the other survivors in the national campaign to know the sisters stand behind them.

“It is a hard thing [to share one’s story] and it’s never going to be easy, but I want them to remember that you’re doing amazing, and it is the right thing, and you’re strong and you’re brave,” she said.

“I’m proud of all of the survivors speaking out, and their courage to look out for other people, and look after themselves.”

Since relaunch on Monday, news.com.au has been inundated with emails of support for Madeline and the campaign more broadly.

Around 5000 people have signed the new petition and $2000 has been donated so far to the public campaign fund, which helps support survivors to tell their story by paying for independent legal advice, travel and other costs incurred.

“We originally planned to tell the stories of 20 survivors,” said independent journalist and campaign creator Nina Funnell.

“But since Monday, I’ve been inundated with emails from other victim-survivors who also want to share their experience with the system.

Boyd Kramer raped Madi Lane in his Mosman apartment.

“It’s clear the campaign has hit a raw nerve. It’s clear that too many survivors are being harmed by a system which doesn’t have to be so callous.”

The campaign is calling for eight major reforms, which have been developed in consultation with experts, academics, survivors, advocates, lawyers, service providers and front line workers.

“It’s incredible to see it has turned into this,” said Pippa Milthorpe.

“We were always doing this for other people. It’s exciting and a bit humbling to see other people have found strength from us and want to share their stories and make change too.”

Nina Funnell is Walkley Award winning journalist and the creator of the Take the Stand campaign run in exclusive partnership with news.com.au. Contact: [e-mail]