Ann Bressington MLC - Policies/Families SA

As you may recall, in late 2008 the media made quite the furore over Ann's satirical suggestion of developing 'sex contracts' to help protect males who are falsely accused of rape. Unfortunately, the media failed to adequately report the context of Ann's comments.

Ann's made the suggestion during her Second Reading contribution (which can be accessed here) to the Criminal Law Consolidation (Rape and Sexual Offences) Bill 2008, while seeking to highlight her concerns, founded on legal advice, that men in certain circumstances could find themselves defenceless to an allegation of rape, despite this not being what had occurred.

While Ann fully supported the underlying intent of the Bill - that being ensuring those who may have previously escaped a conviction of rape due to a legal technicality are now accountable - it was her fear that in doing so the Government may be casting the net too far and enabling false allegations of rape.

It is Ann's position that the fine balance between convicting the guilty and sparing the innocent is yet to be achieved and that the intent of any future attempts should be clearly and unambiguously articulated to prevent protracted legal argument for those adversely affected.

To read Ann's speech to the Governments Bill in full, please click here.

Related Media Releases:
Rape Law Proposal Goes Too Far

Several subsequent media articles highlighting the concerns with this and other similar Bills:
Dangerous Sex as the State Enter Bedroom - The Australian, 30th April 2008
Degrees of Rape: Guilty Plea but Judge Says Maybe Not - The Advertiser, 23rd June 2009
Opinion Piece by Andrew Bolt - The Advertiser, 29th July 2009