Consulting on reform to child sexual abuse offences


Released 22/03/2018

The ACT Government will be implementing important criminal law reforms recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and is seeking community views as part of those reforms.

Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay said key reforms to the way the criminal justice system responds to and supports victims of child sexual abuse, and others affected by sexual offences, would be a vital part of the government’s response to the work of the Royal Commission by June this year.

“The ACT Government is committed to ensuring the lessons from the evidence to the Royal Commission are put into action in the Territory,” Minister Ramsay said.

“Our reforms will focus on ensuring criminal law and processes in the ACT are fair for survivors of sexual abuse, witnesses involved in the court process, and those accused of offences.

“We as a wider society have, too often, failed to keep our most vulnerable people safe. Through the Royal Commission, we saw evidence from countless survivors that changes need to be made to how these crimes are tried in our courts.

“Some of these changes have the potential to change the way people’s rights are reflected in the court process. We need to ensure we make changes to the system to address this, and do it quickly.

“Today I have released material outlining the issues involved in these reforms, the recommendations by the Royal Commission and what the ACT now needs to consider. I look forward to hearing views from a wide range of people in the community to help shape legislative reform.”

The major reforms the government is considering, and seeking feedback on, concern new legislation for failing to report offences, failing to protect at-risk children, the way victims and witnesses provide their evidence and changes to trial, and sentencing procedures for child sexual abuse offences.

“A strong criminal justice response to sexual offending is important, not just for victims and survivors but also for the entire community. The ACT Government welcomes the opportunity to consider potential improvements to our criminal laws,” Minister Ramsay said.

“I will also be consulting directly with a range of key stakeholders in the justice system and more broadly, to inform the Government’s approach to legislative reform in this space.”

The ACT Government has already implemented a range of recommendations from the Royal Commission, including a Reportable Conduct Scheme, new grooming offences and sentencing reforms for child sex offenders.

The Government also recently announced that it is opting-in to a national Redress Scheme to provide more support to survivors of child sexual abuse that occurred in an institution under the responsibility of the ACT Government.

Information about proposed areas for legislative change and details on how to contribute to the reforms are located at www.justice.act.gov.au and will be available on www.yoursay.act.gov.au today. Submissions must be received by 27 April.

- Statement ends -

Gordon Ramsay, MLA | Media Releases

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