Let her speak: Millions of reasons why Millions of reasons why the gag laws need to change

THE Hodgman Government is understood to be — finally — preparing to remove the arcane and paternalistic law that prevents sexual assault survivors from having their say.

Tasmanian Grace Tame has won the right to release her name and speak about sexual abuse. Picture: PATRICK GEE

THE Hodgman Government is understood to be — finally — preparing to remove the arcane and paternalistic law that prevents sexual assault survivors from ever identifying themselves without the permission of a Supreme Court judge. It is welcome news, but not before time. The Law Reform Institute has, over the years, conducted two inquiries into the ban — unique among the states to Tasmania — that is contained in section 194K of the Evidence Act. Two attorneys-general have been lobbied.

This is, then, not a new fight. But it is an important one. As we have said almost countless times in this column as we have used our pages to help support the campaign for this change, this is about empowering survivors; it is about giving them back control of their stories, should they wish to do so.

The testimonies we have run on our Talking Point pages from survivors in the mainland states (where there is no such ban) have shown there are as many reasons for doing so as there are stories of abuse.

HOW GRACE TAME SECURED THE RIGHT TO SHARE HER STORY

Victorian Georgie Burg wrote that “every time I speak out publicly, it creates a space for other survivors to talk openly, without shame, judgment or fear”. Joanna Williams said she wanted to “change the story for those who came after me, so that they didn’t feel as abnormal or alone as I had”. Scarlett Franks said for her it was about “dispelling some of the shame that often leads survivors to vacillate between isolation and retraumatising relationships”.

HOW GRACE TAME’S SEXUAL ABUSE UNFOLDED

In yesterday’s Mercury, the courageous survivor of abuse by a teacher at Hobart’s Collegiate girls’ school Grace Tame told her story for the first time using her own name. She could only do so because — as a Tasmanian — she had to endure a two-year, $10,000 legal fight to win the permission of the Supreme Court. In doing so, Ms Tame became only the fourth sexual assault survivor in Tasmania to do so. Why? Ms Tame says that winning the right to identify herself as the victim of abuse gives her a voice to educate parents and kids about the warning signs of grooming. And so, in line with the wishes of this most brave young Tasmanian, here are what experts say are the six stages of grooming. Please share and talk about them with the children and parents in your life:

1. TARGETING THE VICTIM: The offender selects a target by assessing their vulnerability, isolation and low self-esteem.

2. GAINING THE VICTIM’S TRUST: The offender gathers information by watching the child, getting to know their needs, and earn their trust.

3. FILLING A NEED: The offender begins to fill a child’s emotional and other needs and may offer extra attention, gifts, compliments and time.

4. ISOLATING THE CHILD: The offender undermines the child’s relationships with other adults and uses the developing relationship with the child to create situations in which they are alone together.

5. SEXUALISING THE RELATIONSHIP: Once emotional dependence and trust is established, the offender progressively sexualises the relationship. De-sensitisation occurs through gradual exposure to images, books, ideas and subjects with sexual content.

6. MAINTAINING CONTROL: Once the sexual abuse is occurring, offenders use fear, secrecy and blame to maintain the child’s silence and co-operation.