MEDIA RELEASE Australian Law Reform Commission into Justice Responses to Sexual Violence Inquiry delivers welcome recommendations
Karen Iles, lawyer and founder of the Make Police Investigate Campaign, has welcomed the recommendations outlined in the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) Justice Responses to Sexual Violence Inquiry and urged State and Federal Government to take action.
“The changes recommended by the Australian Law Reform Commission will have a tangible, and positive impact, on the experiences of victim/survivors of rape and sexual violence when they report to police. Women report to police to attempt to hold their perpetrators accountable, and prevent them from raping other women and girls. Victim/survivors must be supported to take this important step – providing them with independent lawyers and other supports is exactly what is needed. These recommendations go towards achieving that.”
Karen can provide insights into this issue from a range of perspectives:
Lawyer who represents victim/survivors of sexual violence through her legal practice Violet Co
Finalist in today’s NSW Women of the Year Awards
Member of the Expert Advisory Group to the Australian Law Reform Commission
Victim/survivor who has gone public with her own story of the justice system
Expert on sexual violence and law reform often quoted in the media
Ms Iles has been publicly campaigning since 2021 for the introduction of independent lawyers for victim/survivors of sexual assault. She runs a legal practice that does just that – pro bono - helping dozens of women each year to access justice.
“Today’s announcement of Federal support for victim/survivors to have lawyers advise and represent them, is welcome, will assist the justice system and hold perpetrators accountable. It is a campaign win.”
Ms Iles said the Commission Report made important and welcome recommendations, including:
The provision of independent legal services for every person who has experienced sexual violence
Reviews and oversight to police practices
State and territory governments to establish and fund an independent taskforce within 12 months to review police investigations into reports of sexual assault
Nationally consistent data frameworks
Consistent national rights for Victims enshrined in Victims’ Rights Charters
Training for police and legal professionals
Amendments to the Fair Work Act to extend the requirements for employers to have a positive duty to prevent sexual harassment and sexual assault and increased remedies for victim/surviors
Strengthening transformative (restorative) justice practices
Improved court processes and practices
“I welcome the ALRC’s recommendations as a significant step toward improving support for the victim/survivors of sexual assault from the moment they seek to report a crime to the police, to the end of the court process. With incidences of rape and sexual assault increasing year on year, I urge State and Federal Government to implement these recommendations as a matter of urgency.
“Ensuring police forces are trained in research-backed practices that dispel common myths and misconceptions surrounding sexual violence will help law enforcement officers better protect and support victims/survivors during the reporting process.
“Implementing recommendations, providing training, and ensuring police respond effectively to reports can help prevent tragedies like the one that claimed Jennifer and Gretl Petelczyc. In their case, despite multiple reports, no action was taken to restrict the perpetrator’s access to firearms, resulting in their murder.
“Regulations that compel police to log all complaints of sexual violence, retain evidence, keep victims informed, and publish data where they do not pursue a case will improve transparency and ensure that vital evidence is preserved should victim/survivors wish to pursue charges at a later date.
“I also welcome the recommendation that safeguards be put in place for victim/survivors to prevent unrepresented accused individuals from personally cross-examining them in court. This reform is critical in ensuring that victim/survivors can seek justice without the fear of intimidation or re-traumatisation.
“I further welcome the recommendation that a Victims' Rights Charter be introduced across Australia. A national framework such as this would ensure that all victim/survivors of sexual violence, no matter where they are, can expect that their reports of sexual assault and violence will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.
“Even women in politics, like Brittany Lauga, who hold some of the highest positions in Queensland, are still dependent on police investigation standards—standards that continue to fail every woman who finds the courage to report their experiences.
“While there is much more work to do, these recommendations are a welcome step toward delivering justice and safety for victims.
“We urge the State and Federal Government to adopt these recommendations and take swift action to implement the necessary changes that will allow all victims of sexual violence to feel heard, supported, and protected.”
Media contact: Darren Rodrigo 0414 783 405
About Karen Iles
Karen Iles is a leading solicitor, advocate, and campaigner dedicated to addressing systemic failures in police accountability and legal responses to sexual assault. As the founder of the Make Police Investigate campaign, Karen has been a driving force behind efforts to create legal obligations for police to investigate reports of aggravated sexual assault, establish consistent investigatory standards, and ensure justice for survivors. Her work is grounded in both professional expertise and personal experience, being a victim/survivor of sexual violence and navigating the systemic challenges of seeking justice.
Karen's campaign advocates for comprehensive reforms, including independent legal representation for victim/survivors, transparent accountability mechanisms for law enforcement, and national principles to standardise police responses across Australian jurisdictions. These efforts aim to address the gaps in the legal system that often leave victim/survivors unsupported and without legal redress.
Karen has testified before government inquiries, including the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, and engaged with State and Federal Government policymakers to push for major legislative changes.
Her influence extends to various public forums, media appearances, and initiatives with other advocates. She participated in high-profile events such as the Sydney Opera House's "All About Women" festival and has appeared on the ABC, The Project, A Current Affair, news.com, the Guardian, Fairfax media, AAP, and in Women’s Agenda.
Karen Iles is recognised as an authority in this field due to her combined legal capability and knowledge, lived experience, and relentless commitment to justice. She has brought national attention to the deficiencies in police responses to sexual assault, empowering survivors and pushing for systemic accountability at all levels of governance and law enforcement.
What is the Make Police Investigate Campaign?
Karen launched the Make Police Investigate campaign in 2022 in response to the significant number of cases of rape and sexual assault failing to achieve justice across the nation. From Karen’s own experience, as well as that of many Australian women, police have been failing to conduct sufficient, if any, investigations into sexual violence and are not being held accountable. The campaign targets six main points of reform:
A legally enforceable Duty of Care owed by police to victim/survivors
Legally mandated minimum standards of investigation
Independent and transparent police accountability mechanisms - no more police investigating police.
National principles to ensure consistency across all States and Territories
Independent lawyers to provide advice and representation for victim/survivors at all points in the justice system
All instances of cross-jurisdiction rape and sexual assault to be handled by the Australian Federal Police so that victim/survivors have a single point of contact.
The campaign has over 50,000 signatures. Essential Research opinion polling (2023) revealed that 70% of Australians believe our governments should introduce a set of legal minimum requirements for police to investigate reports of aggravated sexual assault.
