The incredible Grace Tame recently did an interview on the podcast The Imperfects, and it reminded me all over again that we need to keep talking about this. Thank you, Grace!
It may be 2024, but in Australia, most states and territories still do not allow victim-survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence to speak the truth.
Vulnerable people are silenced by the very legal system that claims it wants to protect us.
The legal system disproportionately favours the person with more money and power. That usually means abusers, who:
- Have often spent years controlling or withholding household finances
- Typically earn more thanks to the gender pay gap that still exists in Australia
- Have the power of a respected position in the community, or
- Are confident that their victim is not legally allowed to speak up about what they did.
With pro bono legal services and DFV support services across the state already stretched beyond capacity, vulnerable women, non-binary people, trans people, and children, are being left to fend entirely for themselves.
The current legal system in Queensland perpetuates abuse. Because it’s easier for an abuser to control a person when they know that person cannot “out” their abuser.
Read on to find out what laws we need to change.
TJ Withers 