Good character references to be scrapped in all WA criminal cases

Good character references, which allow criminals to receive reduced sentences, will be abolished in all criminal cases in Western Australia. The move comes after three employees at Western Power were stood down for supporting a former colleague convicted of rape. Work to ban the practice in child abuse cases was already underway, but the Cook government expanded the ban following media coverage of the Western Power case.

New legislation is being drafted to ban character references in all criminal cases. The attorney-general stated that the reform was well advanced for child abuse cases and expanding it to other sentencing hearings is the next step. The government cited growing concerns about the perception that those with professional standing or strong personal networks receive favorable treatment due to good character references.

The practice has also been criticized for allowing unreliable evidence into courtrooms and potentially blaming victims. The state's leading family and sexual violence advocate warned about these risks. A snap review of the Western Power case and the utility's handling of the matter is expected to be completed soon. Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson emphasized that the public does not support good character references, and convicted criminals should not receive the benefit of glowing references when it comes to sentencing.

The announcement aligns Western Australia with other jurisdictions, such as New South Wales and Victoria, which have banned character references in sexual offence cases.