#Let Her Speak: Sexual assault survivors no longer silenced in the NT as landmark laws pass parliament

SEXUAL assault survivors in the NT who wish to speak out and tell their story under their own names have had the archaic roadblocks to doing so removed, as parliament passed landmark new laws.

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SEXUAL assault survivors in the NT will be free to tell their stories using their own names after archaic laws were overhauled by parliament.

The NT Parliament yesterday unanimously passed new laws borne out of significant community pressure from the #LetHerSpeak campaign, spearheaded by award-winning journalist Nina Funnell and championed by the NT News.

The NT and Tasmania were the only jurisdictions in Australia that prevented sexual assault survivors from consenting to the publication of their identity in the media without applying for an expensive and time-consuming approval from the courts.

Under new laws in the NT, sexual assault survivors can now consent, in writing, to their story being published by a media outlet as long as the person is an adult at the time of giving consent, and is not incapable of giving consent due to mental impairment.

It will be up to the court to allow or refuse the ability for a sexual assault survivor to be able to publicly tell their story before all legal avenues, including any appeal and retrial, are exhausted.

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Ms Funnell said the passing of the laws was a “fantastic outcome” and a testament to the “huge amount of perseverance” of sexual assault survivors who called for this change. “We know that the nature of sexual violence is that it robs people of power, control and voice. It is a crime which silences. The government has helped break that silence,” she said.

Attorney-General Natasha Fyles said the nature of sexual violence was that “it robs people of power, control and voice”. “Many survivors want to support community campaigns aimed at raising awareness about sexual violence and share personal stories to help others to understand more about the impacts and consequences of sexual violence,” she said. “It is a crime which silences. Today, the Government has helped break that silence.”

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