Inquiry is part of government’s $14.7m investment, says attorney-general
The government has received the report of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) following its inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence, announced Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.
The ALRC’s inquiry looked into the applicable laws and legal frameworks, justice sector practices, support services, and transformative justice approaches for the purpose of identifying possible ways to improve the experience of sexual violence victims and survivors in the justice system, said the attorney-general in a media release.
Dreyfus emphasised the Australian government’s commitment to addressing the problems of family, domestic, and sexual violence through financially supporting measures seeking to fight gender-based violence.
The government’s investments include:
Dreyfus noted in the media release that the ALRC’s inquiry is a part of this $14.7m investment. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the justice system is fit to respond to individuals who have faced sexual violence.
“All too often, seeking justice adds to the trauma experienced by victims and survivors,” Dreyfus said in the media release.
Dreyfus acknowledged the lived experience of the Expert Advisory Group and of other victims and survivors of sexual violence. He also recognised the efforts of the advocates, community organisations, researchers, and legal experts who participated in the ALRC’s inquiry.
The Expert Advisory Group aims to inform the inquiry and to ensure that justice responses to sexual violence keep the voices of victims and survivors front and centre, said the attorney-general’s media release. Dreyfus noted that the report would be tabled in the Parliament within 15 sitting days, as required.
“I thank the ALRC and Commissioners, the Hon Marcia Neave AO and Her Honour Judge Liesl Kudelka, and the ALRC President, the Hon Justice Mordecai Bromberg, for their work over the course of the inquiry,” Dreyfus said in the media release.
