News
21 May, 2024
New laws to strengthen protection for children and improve court experience for victims of sexual and domestic violence
New legislation introduced by the Miles Government today aims to provide stronger protections for children and enhance how courts handle sexual, domestic, and family violence cases.
New legislation introduced by the Miles Government today aims to provide stronger protections for children and enhance how courts handle sexual, domestic, and family violence cases. The proposed reforms include a new ‘Position of Authority Offence’ to safeguard 16- and 17-year-olds from sexual abuse by adults in positions of care, supervision, or authority, such as teachers and healthcare professionals. Offenders could face up to 14 years in prison under the new law.
Additionally, the Criminal Justice Legislation (Sexual Violence and Other Matters Amendment Bill) 2024 extends the existing ‘Repeated Sexual Conduct with a Child’ offence to include adults in positions of power who engage in unlawful sexual activity with children aged 16 and 17.
The bill also introduces measures to improve the court experience for victim-survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse. It proposes allowing expert evidence to challenge common misconceptions about how victims might behave during or after an offence.
Changes would also ensure vulnerable witnesses, including children, individuals with impairments, and victims of domestic or sexual violence, can give evidence in a way that reduces trauma. These measures may include pre-recorded testimonies, the presence of support persons, or allowing witnesses to testify in a separate room from the defendant.
Additionally, the bill extends the maximum length of non-contact orders from two to five years, ensuring that offenders cannot contact victims or visit certain places during their sentence.
This legislation forms part of ongoing reforms responding to the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce's recommendations and aims to make the justice system more supportive for those affected by violence.
