A proposal made by Police Commissioner Mick Fuller for an app to address the increasing number of sexual assaults, received a rocky reception and came under fire for being “unworkable”.
Shadow Minister for Police and State MP for Auburn, Lynda Voltz, said recent testimonies of young girls, some as young as 13 and 14 years of age on the Chanel Contos petition, showed that many did not realise what they had been subjected to was a sexual assault.
“We know that juries have struggled with consent laws and an consent app will further play into this confusion,” she said.
The State’s Minister for Education, Sarah Mitchell, also called for a national conversation about teaching consent in schools and said it needed to be taught “early and explicitly”.
She said the national curriculum review, which was underway, presented a perfect opportunity for the states and territories to come together and set a national expectation of what is taught in schools.
“Schools will play their part, but it’s vital we continue working together to ensure a shift occurs in every workplace, institution and household both across the state and throughout the nation. This is everyone’s responsibility,” Ms Mitchell said.
Sexual assault support services:
1800 Respect national helpline:
1800 737 732
Lifeline (24 hour crisis line): 131 114
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
