The ACT Government has committed funding through the 2021-22 ACT Budget Review to establish a multidisciplinary team to review recent cases reported to ACT Policing that were not progressed to charge, including those deemed unfounded, uncleared or withdrawn.
This commitment is in response to recommendation 15 from the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Steering Committee's report. The Report, Listen. Take action to prevent, believe and heal, made 24 recommendations to improve the prevention of sexual violence and responses to victim survivors.
The recommendations addressed all aspects of the specialist responses system and the detailed Government Response to these recommendations is expected in mid-2022.
This work will seek to critically inform improvements in the ACT's response to sexual assault matters. The purpose of the review is to identify systemic issues within the justice system leading to the low number of sexual assault reports proceeding to the point of charge
The $3.4 million commitment to fund the review will lead to a better understanding of the barriers that prevent complaints resulting in a charge. It will also identify ways that victim rights can be better upheld, including ways to reduce the re-traumatisation that many victim survivors experience when they engage with the justice system.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, ACT Policing and the Victims of Crime Commissioner will work together as members of the Oversight Committee and with an independent chair to commence the review in May 2022.
