1800 385 578Press Release: Sexual Violence Victims Await Justice, One Year After Inquiry into Justice Responses Launched.
Today marks one year since the Attorney General, Hon Mark Dreyfus announced the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Inquiry into Justice Responses to Sexual Violence.
The need for urgent, transformative change to the legal system’s response to sexual violence and to combat the disturbingly high levels of sexual violence in our community is clear. A clear pathway for reform and a response by government to implement change is needed now.
The legal system is not fit for purpose in responding to sexual violence and urgent change is needed. This inquiry offers an opportunity for reform that cannot be missed.
Download our statement here.
Past Media Releases
JANUARY 2025 Statement: Full Stop Australia seeks investment for sexual violence response in NSW 2025-26 budget.
Full Stop Australia is calling on the New South Wales Government to increase its investment in response to the escalating crisis of sexual violence in the state. Full Stop Australia has submitted a compelling proposal to the NSW Government for the 2025-26 budget, titled ‘Investing in Safety.’
OCTOBER 2024 Statement: Full Stop Australia Marks 50 Years of Service. What Will It Take? Putting a Full Stop to Sexual Violence.
Tomorrow, 29 October 2024, Full Stop Australia turns 50 years old. On this day in 1974, the Sydney Rape Crisis Centre began operating out of a single room at the Sydney Women’s Liberation House in Glebe.
SEPTEMBER 2024 Statement: National Cabinet Funding Announcement Must Flow to Sexual Violence Response.
Whilst the specific details of the funding have not been made available, it is unclear whether sexual violence frontline services will receive a much-needed funding boost. With national sexual assault reports at a 31-year high, it is critical that part of the today’s funding announcement flow through to sexual violence services.
AUGUST 2024 Statement: Full Stop Australia Welcomes Focus on Sexual Violence as Expert Panel Reports Findings.
Full Stop Australia CEO, Karen Bevan, welcomes the report’s calls for urgency, focus and resourcing to end domestic, family and sexual violence. Full Stop Australia particularly welcomes the much-needed focus on sexual violence.
“The work required under the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children includes improving responses to sexual assault, making recovery and healing services available and investment in sector capacity,” she said.
AUGUST 2024: Full Stop Australia Acknowledges Commissioner Cronin’s National Plan Report, Welcomes Focus on Sexual Violence.
Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Commissioner, Micaela Cronin made the comments while delivering an address to the National Press Club after tabling in parliament a report on the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children.
Download our statement here.
JULY 2024: Alarming rates of sexual violence perpetration underscore need for commensurate action.
The ABS has today released data showing that national rates for reported sexual assaults are at a 31-year high. This is against the backdrop that the vast majority of victim-survivors (92%) don’t report to police.
Download our statement here.
JUNE 2024: ABS Data Shines a Light on Sexual Violence.
The ABS has today released data showing that national rates for reported sexual assaults are at a 31-year high. This is against the backdrop that the vast majority of victim-survivors (92%) don’t report to police.
JUNE 2024: NSW Budget Makes Progress but Critical Areas Left off the 'Must Have' List.
The ABS has today released data showing that national rates for reported sexual assaults are at a 31-year high. This is against the backdrop that the vast majority of victim-survivors (92%) don’t report to police.
Download our statement here.
JUNE 2024: NSW Budget Makes Progress but Critical Areas Left off the 'Must Have' List.
The NSW Budget has made some good progress on strategic investment in addressing domestic violence, but overall the response to the crisis of sexual, domestic and family violence does not match the scale and impact of gender-based violence across NSW.
JUNE 2024: Sexual Violence Must be Part of National Conversation as BOCSAR Releases New Data
In summary, only 8% of child sexual abuse and 6% of adult sexual abuse result in a
conviction. And ABS data shows only 8% of sexual violence matters are reported to
police. Clearly, the justice system is not delivering justice to victim-survivors of the
most serious crimes.
MAY 2024: Federal Budget Misses Opportunity to Address Gendered Violence Crisis.
Two weeks ago we were talking about a national emergency and the need for a
comprehensive investment in women's safety. From that we saw and acknowledged
some important first steps. But that is where progress stopped. This budget has failed to continue driving important and necessary change.
Download our statement here.
MAY 2024: New reforms herald an evidence-based approach to bail laws, Full Stop Australia advocates for comprehensive protection against sexual violence. Full Stop Australia acknowledges that these bail law reforms are in accordance with a large and well-established evidence base. We hope this drives further reform that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of victim-survivors of sexual, domestic and family violence.
MAY 2024: Full Stop Australia Welcomes NSW Government Investment in Domestic Violence; Appeals for Additional Support to the Front Lines, and Enhanced Focus on Sexual Violence Response
Full Stop Australia CEO, Karen Bevan, said “There is a lot to celebrate in this package. There has clearly been a reckoning with insufficient past investment in the crisis of men’s violence in NSW. We welcome the Government’s promise to keep doing the work—and, critically, keep committing much-needed funding—to address this preventable crisis.”
MAY 2024: Full Stop Australia Welcomes National Cabinet Announcements and Urges Further Reform.
The announcements by the Prime Minister today following a meeting of the National Cabinet are an important step in the right direction – we will always support reform that increases safety and agency for victim-survivors. These are good first steps and we encourage the government to go much further.
March 2024: Progress for All Women is Only Possible with Progressive Policy.
This year, for International Women’s Day, we’re asked to Count Her In. It’s a timely theme as we learn every day just how much social and economic systems, structures, and policies count women, and other priority populations, out of economic safety and wellbeing.
MAY 2023: Budget commitment shows progress, but more needed to ensure women's safety.
Everyone deserves to be safe at work and free from sexual harassment, but our current system is failing us. While sexual harassment is pervasive across all industries and all employment levels in Australia, it is not inevitable. We have the power to prevent it.