Page 563 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 2019
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treatment of the confessional seal in both the reportable conduct and mandatory reporting schemes and ensures freedom of religion is limited only to the extent necessary to protect children from harm.
In addition to making important changes to reporting obligations, the bill also makes other improvements to the legal framework that improve access to justice for survivors of child sexual abuse. The bill will extend the application of the ACT’s extensive special measures scheme to those making a victim impact statement in court. This supports victims to be heard in court and helps reduce the trauma associated with making a victim impact statement.
The bill will also retrospectively repeal an outdated and anachronistic common-law presumption that a male under 14 years was incapable of sexual intercourse. This presumption was abolished in the ACT in 1985. However, the presumption was not abolished retrospectively, with the effect that there is a potential to cause real injustice to a victim. Removing this presumption facilitates access to justice for historic victims of child sexual abuse who were abused by male perpetrators under the age of 14.
Finally, the bill will retrospectively amend section 70 of the Crimes Act to rectify a technical inconsistency in the availability of alternative verdicts for child sexual abuse.
Overall, this bill will improve the way society protects children from child sexual abuse. It will enhance the effectiveness of the ACT’s justice system in holding perpetrators accountable and it will improve access to justice for victims. It does this by turning the recommendations of the royal commission into concrete changes in our legislation.
This bill is yet another example of the government’s commitment, solemn commitment, to take responsibility and to implement the findings of the royal commission. We will keep working to improve our legal system and we will keep demonstrating in our words, in our actions and in our laws that protecting children is our absolute priority. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Hanson) adjourned to the next sitting.
Estimates 2019-2020—Select Committee
Establishment
MR WALL (Brindabella) (10.42): I move:
That:
(1) a Select Committee on Estimates 2019-2020 be appointed to examine the expenditure proposals contained in the Appropriation Bill 2019-2020, the Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2019-2020 and any revenue estimates proposed by the government in the 2019-2020 Budget and prepare a report to the Assembly;
(2) the Committee be composed of:
(a) two Members to be nominated by the Government;
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