BILL TO REDUCE TRAUMA FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS

The WA Liberals will today introduce legislation aimed at reducing the unnecessary retraumatisation of sexual assault survivors as they navigate the criminal justice system.

The Evidence Amendment (Reducing Retraumatisation for Survivors of Sexual Offending) Bill 2026 will allow video-recorded police interviews to be used as evidence in chief for sexual offence complainants, regardless of their age at the time of the alleged offending.

The reform implements Recommendation 15 of the Commissioner for Victims of Crime’s review, Improving experiences for victim-survivors: Review of criminal justice responses to sexual offending in Western Australia.

Shadow Attorney General Nick Goiran said the review identified the repeated retelling of traumatic events as a significant source of retraumatisation for victim-survivors.

“Survivors can be required to tell their story again and again — from their first account to police through to recounting those traumatic events in court,” he said.

“Where that repetition can reasonably be reduced without compromising a fair trial, Parliament should act.

“The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions identified this reform as one of the most impactful opportunities to improve the justice system’s response to sexual offending.”

Current laws already allow recorded interviews to be used as evidence in chief where a complainant was a child at the time of the alleged sexual offence.

“Trauma does not suddenly cease to be trauma when a person turns 18,” Mr Goiran said.

“This Bill removes that arbitrary age distinction while retaining existing safeguards, including judicial oversight, admissibility requirements and the right of an accused person to cross-examine the complainant.”

Shadow Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Libby Mettam said the reform was a practical step towards making the justice system less traumatic for survivors.

“Having to repeatedly recount sexual offending can itself be deeply distressing and retraumatising,” she said.

“If a survivor has already given a properly recorded police interview, the justice system should not require them to relive that experience one more time than necessary.

“This reform gives survivors greater choice in how they give their evidence while preserving the fundamental safeguards of a fair trial.”

The Bill follows the Opposition’s Capturing Child Sex Offenders for Unlawful Consorting Bill 2026, introduced earlier this year to strengthen police powers to disrupt convicted child sex offenders associating with one another.

Mr Goiran said both Bills reflected the Opposition’s commitment to strengthening community protection while improving the justice system for victim-survivors.

“We should be strengthening the law against offenders while doing everything reasonably possible to reduce unnecessary trauma for victims who have the courage to come forward,” he said.

“The Cook Labor Government commissioned this review and its own Commissioner for Victims of Crime recommended this reform.

“There is no good reason for delay.

We call on the Government to support this practical change and help reduce the unnecessary retraumatisation of sexual assault survivors.”
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Contact: Graham Mason 0419 194 792