Alongside more than a dozen frontline organisations providing support to victims and survivors of sexual violence and other community organisations, QCOSS and Women’s Legal Service Queensland have appealed to the Queensland government to amend their Consent (Mistake of Fact) Bill to include an affirmative consent model.
The affirmative consent model is already law in Victoria and Tasmania.
In an open letter sent yesterday 23 March to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman, the services say that the proposed Bill is not fit for purpose and will do little to improve the safety and wellbeing of women in Queensland.
Full list of organisations:
- Women’s Legal Service Queensland
- Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS)
- Aboriginal Family Legal Service Southern Queensland
- Queensland Sexual Assault Network Inc.
- St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland
- Children by Choice
- Women’s Health Queensland
- Ending Violence Against Women Queensland
- Rape and Sexual Assault Research and Advocacy (RASARA)
- Edon Place Domestic & Family Violence Centre
- Queensland Alliance for Mental Health
- Gold Coast Domestic Violence Prevention Centre
- Respect Inc
- Queensland Youth Housing Coalition
- Basic Rights Queensland
- World Wellness Group Ltd.
- Immigrant Women’s Support Service