Released 20/02/2018
The ACT Government has legislated to implement key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay said the Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 2018 amends the ACT’s criminal laws to address findings of the Royal Commission through changes to the Crimes Act 1900.
“These amendments demonstrate our commitment to take prompt action to respond to the Royal Commission’s recommendations to provide justice and shape a safer future for our children,” Minister Ramsay said.
“The sexual abuse of a child is a terrible crime perpetuated against the most vulnerable in our community and a fundamental breach of the trust children are entitled to place in adults.
“Through the work of the Royal Commission, Australia has learned about the multiple and persistent failings of institutions to keep children safe.”
The Crimes Act 1900 has been amended to recognise the ways victims remember abuse, in direct response to issues exposed by the Royal Commission.
The change to the offence of maintaining a sexual relationship with a young person will allow for prosecutions in a manner consistent with the way victims recall abuse.
“The amendments will define the criminal act of maintaining a sexual relationship with a young person as constituted by the ongoing unlawful sexual relationship, rather than individual acts,” Minister Ramsay said.
“The Bill also amends sections of the Act relating to grooming to adopt the Royal Commission’s recommendations.
“The ACT’s current grooming legislation only applies to online communications. This Bill amends that legislation to cover all conduct, in person or otherwise. The amendments also extend the grooming offence to apply to the grooming of people other than children in order to gain access to children, in line with the Royal Commission’s recommendations.”
The Bill also makes legislative amendments to exclude good character as a mitigating factor in sentencing for child sexual abuse offences where that good character facilitated the offending.
The Attorney-General will be releasing a discussion paper in the near future regarding further legislative changes arising out of other recommendations from the Royal Commission.
- Statement ends -
Gordon Ramsay, MLA | Media Releases