Members Statement - Sexual Assault

MEMBERS STATEMENT

SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES.

Wednesday, 5 May 2021.

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton) (10:01):

Young women are calling for modernisation of the sexual assault reporting system. We should not be proud that Victoria is the only jurisdiction in Australia without a structured informal reporting system.

Brave women from my community, like sexual assault survivor Yasmin Ilhan, have described being horrified throughout the reporting process and how no-one, let alone victims of sexual assault, should be treated this way.

At the same time horrific crimes have recently occurred in my community— violent crimes against children—yet the authorities have chosen not to publicly report them.

And the Labor government’s silence has been deafening—silent on making the system better, silent on efforts to protect my community and silent on any comforting words to victims.