Grace Tame welcomes removal of 'relationship' from NT child sexual abuse laws
By Sarah Spina-MatthewsThe Northern Territory has become the last jurisdiction in the country to remove the word "relationship" from child sexual abuse legislation, in a move welcomed by former Australian of the Year Grace Tame.
Key points:
- The NT parliament will debate a string of changes to sexual abuse legislation
- One proposed change is to remove the word 'relationship' from the Sexual Offences Act
- Grace Tame will be present on the parliament floor during the debate
Parliament passed an amendment bill with bipartisan support on Thursday to remove the word "relationship" from the Sexual Offences Act.
The change is in line with recommendations from the child sexual abuse royal commission, and the laws were passed with unanimous support of all 25 members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly.
Speaking in Darwin, Ms Tame, who is a survivor of child sexual abuse, said she was proud to be in the territory on the "historic" day the laws were debated.
"Child sexual abuse is a crime that is in a class all of its own, nothing compares to this crime against nature," she said.
"When you have the language in the law itself, we have the community able to better understand what it is."
Other changes in the bill include:
- Introducing a new offence of grooming a child;
- Criminalising stealthing;
- Removing the ability for child sex offenders to rely on good character references during sentencing.
NT Attorney-General Chansey Paech said the changes would lead to "greater certainty and accountability".
"We need to make sure legislation absolutely calls it out [sexual abuse] for what it is, and that we deal with it appropriately and take the right course of action to hold people accountable," he said.
"Words matter."
Final step towards national consistency
Ms Tame has been a leading advocate lobbying for the change, particularly for the legal description of sexual abuse.
"To be a part of it, and to be a witness of it, is the greatest privilege of my life," she said.
"It is a marathon and not a sprint."
The NT is the last jurisdiction in Australia to make the change, after South Australia did so in May.
Ms Tame, who attended parliament sittings to watch the debate, said it was vital legislation be consistent between jurisdictions.
"Without a strong foundation that is … codified in our law … we can't hope to be able to teach the foundations of right and wrong," she said.
Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley said the reforms would help victims of sexual assault.
"We always say the rights of victims should be above politics, and the CLP will always stand for territorians," he said.