The ACT Government is seeking views on changes to ACT laws to give effect to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Reform concerning criminal law reform. 

The ACT Government is committed to ensuring that the lessons and evidence developed by the Royal Commission are put into action in the Territory. Criminal Justice reform will be focused on ensuring that our criminal laws and procedures afford a fair trial to survivors of sexual abuse, witnesses who participate in the court process, and to people accused.

The Royal Commission’s thorough examination of how survivors recount the trauma of abuse sets out an evidence base that justifies changing the way crimes are tried in the Courts. Some of these changes will fundamentally change the way rights, including the rights of people accused of crimes, are reflected in the Court process.

The key reform areas the ACT Government is considering and seeking feedback on are:

• Failure to Report laws
• Failure to protect laws
• The way vulnerable witnesses give evidence
• An intermediary scheme
• Other reforms to trial and sentencing procedures for sexual offences

Please see Royal Commission’s report can be found here.

Submissions can be sent to:

Email:   JACSLPP@act.gov.au (with the subject “Criminal justice reform”) 

Post:      Child sexual abuse reform options – Submissions

Legislation, Policy & Programs

Justice and Community Safety Directorate

ACT Government

GPO Box 158

Canberra ACT 2601

Submissions must be received by close of business on 27 April 2018. All submissions and comments will be treated as public, and may be published, unless the author indicates that it is to be treated as confidential. All requests for the submission to be treated confidentially will be respected and dealt with in accordance with any applicable laws, including freedom of information legislation.