Crisafulli LNP Government caves to pressure to better recognise victim-survivors’ harm

Labor has delivered important action for Queensland by forcing the Crisafulli LNP Government to implement recommendations around rape and sexual assault sentencing.

The Queensland Labor team announced it would introduce amendments to implement important recommendations by the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council.

These amendments would see rape and sexual assault perpetrators unable to rely on good character references during sentences – and instead, only in limited situations.

The amendments would also ensure victim-survivors’ harm will be better recognised during sentencing.

Today, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington supported those amendments in a win for victim survivors.

Labor pushed for these law changes after the Crisafulli LNP Government received a report from the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council in December.

The QSAC report found that 'good character' appeared to be given 'a lot of weight' in more than a quarter of cases.

It also found that of 131 District Court rape cases sentenced between July 2022 and June 2023, almost 92 per cent had relied on a good character reference.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Attorney-General Meaghan Scanlon:

“Today is a win for victim survivors of rape and sexual assaults.

“Today is a win for those that have advocated for tougher sentences of offenders.

“The Crisafulli LNP Government couldn’t keep their heads in the sand any longer.

“They had been sitting on this report since December and if it wasn’t for the State Labor Opposition, the Government would not be implementing these recommendations.

“The report made it obvious that it was not right that perpetrators continuously received lighter sentences for horrific sexual violence because they claimed to be good blokes.

“Importantly, these laws, thanks to Labor’s advocacy, will ensure sexual violence against children is deemed an aggravating factor.

“Children are vulnerable and offending against them must always be seen at the highest level.

“These new laws will empower victim-survivors and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.

ENDS