'Victims on trial': Labor's sexual violence crackdown

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has pledged a range of pre-election measures aimed at reducing violence against women, including tougher sentencing for rapists and restrictions on lawyers questioning victim-survivors. The proposed changes would include life sentences for rapists, higher penalties for serious sexual offences, and a new manslaughter charge for deaths resulting from family violence.

Additionally, the government plans to legislate a maximum life sentence for rape, increase the penalty for murder of a current or former partner from 25 to 30 years, and double the penalty for persistent breaches of family violence intervention orders to 10 years in jail. The government is also considering new legislation to account for patterns of sexual abuse in trials and to prevent barristers from using humiliating questioning techniques in court.

The Premier stated that he is "sick of Victoria's courts and defence barristers putting victims on trial." The latest Victorian crime statistics show 42 homicide and related offences connected to family violence in the year ending March. While breaches of family violence orders slightly decreased from 64,586 to 64,047, they have risen from 54,118 in 2022.

The opposition leader, Jess Wilson, acknowledged the need for reforms to support victim-survivors in navigating the justice system but cautioned against inappropriate changes. The opposition has pledged $150 million to build three new high schools and transition six existing schools to select or partial select-entry, aiming to provide educational opportunities for all Victorian students.