A 16-year-old boy convicted of sexually assaulting another student from his high school in Greater Sydney has launched an appeal.
A campaign to introduce classification for films and TV shows which depict non-consensual sex is worthy of support. But common sense should also play a role.
Many Australians are unclear about what consent means,which is not helped by bad messaging in film and TV. A new campaign aims to change that.
Affirmative consent will become law in Victoria,shifting the onus onto a person accused of sexual assault to show consent was given.
At sentencing hearings for sexual assault offenders,as well the accused and the victim,prosecutor Katrina Marson often senses a powerful,though invisible,presence.
Her campaign prodded Australian governments to educate boys and girls about consent,and now it’s going international.
The Criminal Bar Association and Law Institute of Victoria say some proposed changes to sexual offence laws will lead to unintended consequences,but advocates say current legislation leaves too much room for interpretation.
Sexual contact may not be considered criminal at the time,but under proposed reforms this could change if the relationship breaks down.
In introducing affirmative consent legislation,the Victorian government is saying to survivors:what was done to you was wrong,you are not the problem here.
The laws that came into effect on Wednesday in NSW are critical reforms,but we have more to do.
There’s more to trying to stop sexual harassment at universities than increasing lighting and the number of after-hours buses.