Child sexual abuse survivor Grace Tame has urged states and territories to follow the ACT Government’s lead and reform sexual abuse legislation.
The 2021 Australian of the Year is campaigning to ensure jurisdictions adopt uniform child sexual abuse offences, and definitions of the age of consent and sexual intercourse.
“Still today, perpetrators of abuse find safety in outdated, inconsistent legislation which both protects them and perpetuates social ignorance,” Ms Tame told the National Press Club on Wednesday.
Her advocacy has prompted the ACT Government to agree to reword the offence of having a “sexual relationship with a child” to “persistent sexual abuse” of a child.
She wants Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory to follow suit.
“We can … use federalism to our advantage in that it creates competition,” Ms Tame said.
“One (jurisdiction) does something and all the other jurisdictions go, ‘Oh, crap, we better do that too’.
“NSW especially is making huge headway and Victoria is sort of chasing behind them with consent legislation. So there’s a lot of hope there.”
Last year she met with the country’s attorneys-general to lobby for the changes as part of the Grace Tame Foundation’s Harmony Campaign.
NSW, Victoria and Western Australia refer to the “persistent sexual abuse” of a child in their respective legislation.
But Ms Tame expressed disappointment all but two states – Victoria and WA – still had the word “relationship” within their child sexual abuse laws.
“It’s all well and good to change heart and minds with our conversations. But without structural change, we will continue to be at the mercy of systems that override them,” she told Wednesday’s National Press Club.
Ms Tame’s own abuser was charged in Tasmania with maintaining a sexual relationship with a person under the age of 17.
Her advocacy prompted the state to rename the offence the persistent sexual abuse of a child.
“The former charge implies consent, while the latter reflects the gravity and the truth of an unlawful criminal act committed against an innocent child victim,” she said.
“Piece by piece, we must correct the narrative and take control away from abusers.”
Ms Tame has also called on jurisdictions to adopt a consistent set of provisions for what’s known as the “similar age defence”, as well as the defence of reasonable belief regarding consent and approaches to punishment.
By Georgie Moore in Canberra, AAP
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