Improving the Response of the Justice System to Sexual Offences: Submissions

The Commission has received the following submissions to its review of Improving the Response of the Justice System to Sexual Offences. The Commission will upload submissions to this review as they are processed. 

The submissions below are published with the permission of those who submitted them. The Commission does not publish submissions that are confidential, offensive, defamatory, or do not relate to the project. Private information about people other than the author is de-identified. Opinions in submissions are those of the submitters and not the Commission.

This page also contains a link (below) to the short paper Summary of Responses to the Online Feedback Form from People with Experience of Sexual Assault. This is not a formal submission but contains anonymous responses which will be used, together with submissions, consultations and research, to develop recommendations for reforms.

Content warning

The materials in these submissions relate to sexual assault and/or violence. Some content may be confronting or disturbing.

If you need help, here are some options for advice and support.

Ethical reporting

The Victorian Law Reform Commission encourages sensitive, ethical reporting of the issues related to this reference and requests that, wherever possible, the contact details of support services are included in media reports because people who have experienced sexual harm may have long lasting trauma.

Submissions to this inquiry and the public consultation phase have closed.

Below is a list of the submissions that were received from various individuals, organisations and institutions, not including any that were confidential.

Submission 1: Celebrate Ageing
Submission 2: Braun
Submission 3: Ibrahim et al Health Law and Ageing Research Unit
Submission 4: Richards et al
Submission 5: Willoughby et al Justice and Health Unit, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Submission 7: Fileborn et al
Submission 8: Stuart Grimley MP
Submission 9: Djirra
Submission 10: Worth Lancaster
Submission 11: Associate Professor John AM Gall
Submission 12: Women’s Legal Service Victoria
Submission 13: Australian Association of Social Workers
Submission 14: Gatehouse Centre
Submission 15: Anonymous
Submission 16: O. Ormerod
Submission 17: Sexual Assault Services Victoria
Submission 18: In Good Faith Foundation
Submission 19: Anonymous
Submission 20: Anonymous member of Aboriginal community
Submission 21: VACCA
Submission 22: Knowmore Legal
Submission 23: Dr Mary Iliadis, Deakin University
Submission 24: Jesuit Social Services
Submission 25: Dr Steven Tudor, LaTrobe University
Submission 26: Northern CASA
Submission 27: Victoria Legal Aid
Submission 28: Dr Natalia Antolak Saper, Monash University
Submission 29: Victorian Pride Lobby
Submission 30: Red Files Inc
Submission 31: Professor Jeremy Gans, University of Melbourne
Submission 32: Anonymous Sexual Assault Survivor
Submission 33: Sex Work Law Reform Victoria
Submission 34: Rape and Sexual Assault Research and Advocacy
Submission 37: Anonymous
Submission 38: Bravehearts Foundation
Submission 39: Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia
Submission 40: Law Institute of Victoria
Submission 41: Office of the Public Advocate
Submission 42: Byrne
Submission 43: Livingstone Clark
Submission 44: Tidmarsh Hamilton
Submission 45: Victims of Crime Commissioner (updated May 2022 with revised figures from NSW Bureau of Crime and Statistics Research)
Submission 46: Name withheld
Submission 47: Criminal Bar Association
Submission 48: Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner
Submission 49: InTouch
Submission 50: Project Respect
Submission 51: Partner Speak
Submission 52: Centre for Innovative Justice
Submission 53: Liberty Victoria
Submission 54: Victorian Multicultural Commission
Submission 55: Springvale Monash Legal Service
Submission 56: Domestic Violence Victoria
Submission 57: Commission for Children and Young People
Submission 58: Law and Advocacy Centre for Women
Submission 59: County Court of Victoria
Submission 61: Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine
Submission 61: Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine attachment
Submission 63: Office of Public Prosecutions
Submission 64: VALID
Submission 65: Aboriginal Justice Caucus
Submission 66: Supreme Court of Victoria
Submission 67: Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
Submission 68: Victoria Police response to Issues paper A
Submission 68: Victoria Police response to Issues paper B
Submission 68: Victoria Police response to Issues paper C
Submission 68: Victoria Police response to Issues paper D
Submission 68: Victoria Police response to Issues paper E
Submission 68: Victoria Police response to Issues paper F
Submission 68: Victoria Police response to Issues paper G
Submission 69: Victim survivor of sexual assault name withheld
Submission 70: Victorian Institute of Teaching
Submission 71: Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine

Below is a list of the submissions that were received for the Commission’s inquiry into a proposed new ‘Grab and drag’ offence.

Submission 1: County Court of Victoria
Submission 2: Robyn Vincent
Submission 3: Stuart Grimley MP
Submission 4: Sexual Assault Services Victoria
Submission 5: Liberty Victoria
Submission 6: Office of Public Prosecutions
Submission 7: Victoria Legal Aid
Submission 8: Victoria Police
Submission 9: Law Institute of Victoria
Submission 10: Madison
Submission 11: Steve H
Submission 12: Dr Steven Tudor
Submission 13: Criminal Bar Association
Submission 14: Victims of Crime Commissioner
Submission 15: Victorian Women Lawyers
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