Reducing Traumatic Re-enactments for Survivors of Sexual Assault in Western Australian Courts

A necessary shift in our justice system

In my years as a GP, I never saw a patient cured by red tape. I have seen, however, the lasting damage caused by systems that fail to recognise the fundamental human need for healing. This is why I was pleased to stand in the Legislative Council to support the Evidence Amendment (Reducing Retraumatisation for Survivors of Sexual Offending) Bill 2026. This legislation is more than just a legal adjustment: it is a vital step toward creating a system that treats the people within it as humans, not just as case numbers.

For too long, the process of seeking justice has forced survivors of sexual violence to relive their trauma repeatedly. This isn't just bureaucracy; it is a waiting room where victims are further harmed by the very process designed to protect them. The current reality is that too many individuals withdraw from proceedings, not because they are lying, but because the system itself is re-inflicting the original wound.

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Moving beyond the courtroom tradition

While the major parties often get caught in the machinery of politics, our focus remains firmly on the evidence. The proposal to expand the use of prerecorded police interviews as evidence-in-chief is a clear, sensible solution. It allows survivors to provide their accounts in a controlled, supportive environment, rather than being subjected to the high-pressure, intimidating atmosphere of a traditional courtroom cross-examination. As we have seen in other jurisdictions, failure to implement these protections directly leads to higher rates of victim disengagement.

We must be careful, however. Implementing these changes requires more than just a stroke of a pen. It demands a genuine commitment to trauma-informed training for police and a robust quality assurance framework. A recording is only as good as the environment in which it is made, and we must ensure that no survivor is pressured into a process that they are not ready to undertake.

The path forward for survivors

I have often said that unresolved trauma is a silent epidemic that shortens lives and diminishes our community wellbeing. By supporting this bill, we are acknowledging that the law must evolve to accommodate the realities of human experience. We are not just debating a bill; we are advocating for a future where reporting an offence does not require sacrificing one's mental health.

The government has expressed a willingness to refine the implementation of this legislation, and I am optimistic that by working together, we can ensure that these protections are practical, effective, and truly serve those who need them most. You can read the full transcript of the debate here. If you agree that we need more voices in Parliament who put compassion and evidence at the heart of their decision-making, I invite you to join the movement at Legalise Cannabis WA.