“I have deep concerns on the current[education] proposal put forward by the government,in particular the metrics to be used and placing the burden of consent education onto our already overworked and underpaid teachers. It should be delivered by specialist experts,” she said.
“The measure of success cannot simply be how many students attended a session or downloaded materials. It must be evaluated on a depth of understanding and reduction of sexual harassment and sexual assault.”
Ms Wilson,the Liberal Party member for North Shore,commended her government’s commitment to legislating affirmative consent and Education Minister Sarah Mitchell’s package for schools.
“But this is not just about legislation,it’s not just about our education system,it’s much more holistic. This is about cultural reform and attitudes and behaviours that flow from that. It all comes back to listening what people have to say,because if we don’t understand the problem,we don’t know the pervasiveness of it,” she said.
Ms Wilson quoted two testimonies submitted from her north shore community:students from Queenwood and Loreto Kirribilli who said that teaching consent at a younger age was vital to prevent sexual assault occurring.
“Chanel wants these voices to be heard,and I want these voices to be heard,” Ms Wilson said.
Liberal MPs Geoff Lee and Melanie Gibbons,Labor MP Jodie Harrison and Greens MP Jamie Parker also spoke supporting Ms Contos’ petition and the government’s new law reforms.
”I’m so thankful NSW Parliament dedicated that much time into such an important issue,it’s showing us that our voices are being heard,” Ms Contos said afterwards.
Before Thursday’s debate,Chloe Korbel,17,and Lucinda Hoffman,26,hung a line of 6000 ribbons outside Parliament’s gates,with the ribbons representing each young person who submitted a testimony to Ms Contos’ campaign. They were tied together by University of Sydney students who live on campus at the Women’s College.
Ms Korbel,a student at St Vincent’s College in Potts Point,said she had wanted her school to improve its sex education and Ms Contos’ petition had been the catalyst for action. Her school implemented a program for teachers and will introduce other lessons next year.
“I was really impressed[with the school] but I think there’s only so much one school can do. I think it needs to be addressed across the board,over all schools,and I think it needs to start here[in Parliament]. Education will be the catalyst for cultural change and we really need this,” Ms Korbel said.
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Ms Hoffman,a former student of Kambala who cut each of the 6000 ribbons,said she did not know she had been repeatedly sexually assaulted throughout high school until she went into rehabilitation and worked with a therapist.
“I didn’t get taught consent at school. I would love an overhaul of what we are taught;a cohesive education on consent for everyone. It’s my passion. It’s crazy that Chanel did it and I just wanted to be involved. She created a conversation that we didn’t have before.”