Grace Tame sparks change to SA’s child sex abuse law wording

The wording of a South Australian child sex abuse offence will be changed following a campaign led by abuse survivor and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame.

Child sexual abuse survivor and advocate Grace Tame speaks in Adelaide with (from left) Greens MLC Tammy Franks, South Australian Attorney-General Kyam Maher and SA-BEST MLC Connie Bonaros. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

The word “relationship” is at the crux of a change to a South Australian child sex abuse offence led by abuse survivor and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame.

Ms Tame has been calling for changes across Australia, especially in jurisdictions where it is referred to as “an unlawful relationship”.

Legislation will remove “relationship” – a word Ms Tame said implies mutual responsibility and consent, and diminishes the gravity of the offence.

Instead, the heading will be changed to “sexual abuse of a child” – but there will be no change to the elements of the offence.

Grace Tame says the term “relationship” carries a certain connotation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Ms Tame, who was at Parliament House for the introduction of the bill to the Legislative Council on Thursday, said the change takes significant steps towards eliminating salacious debate and confusion.

“Words hold immense weight,” she said.

“The previous terminology also gave scope for the sexualisation and adultification of boys and girls in a particularly dark, twisted context.

“Our legislation must reflect the unequivocal seriousness of this crime, which is never a child’s desire, but instead a perverted fantasy projected onto and into them through a process of grooming.”

Attorney-General Kyam Maher said “the way we describe these offences is incredibly important”.

“Words matter, and the term ‘relationship’ carries a certain connotation that, quite frankly, should not be associated with the exploitative nature of child sexual abuse.

Greens MLC Tammy Franks said the change was particularly important for survivors who face the daunting prospect of confronting their abuser in court.

“And it matters for the survivors who can’t,” she said.

SA-Best MLC Connie Bonaros said the decisive action by the government, following representations by her party, will better reflect the nature of “such heinous offending”.

“Understandably, there is much concern around the casualisation of the language, and that somehow this is something that the victim and the perpetrator are consenting to,” she said.

“That ends today with the introduction of the government’s bill.”

The change is consistent with the name of the offence in Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Tasmania.

Originally published as Grace Tame sparks change to SA’s child sex abuse law wording