Heck Yes, Affirmative Consent Laws Have Officially Been Passed In NSW
The bill is a historic win for survivors.
Affirmative consent laws have been passed in New South Wales today, after the relevant bill passed in the lower house earlier this month.
— Content warning: This article contains mention of rape and sexual assault. —
MP for Newtown Jenny Leong broke the news on Twitter this afternoon. In Leong’s tweet, she praised Director of Advocacy at Rape and Sexual Assault Research Saxon Mullins.
BIG NEW: We have achieved affirmative consent laws in NSW šš½
We may have been the ones in the chamber speaking to and passing these new laws – but really it has been @SaxonAdair that delivered this change and who has made this a reality. pic.twitter.com/ohZPHE2oHn
— Jenny Leong MP ę¢ē妮 (@jennyleong) November 23, 2021
Mullins has been one of the many advocates for affirmative consent laws and has been fighting for an affirmative consent bill to be passed since her alleged assault in 2013.Ā “Every survivor and expert who helped this through changed the world today. Thank you,” Mullins tweeted after the bill was passed this afternoon.
Leong moved to make the amendment toĀ the Crimes Legislation, making explicit affirmative consent, like words or actions, mandatory before immediately engaging in any sexual activity in NSW.Ā The Affirmative Consent Bill and reforms will also help survivors in legal cases where the alleged abuser claims to have reasonable grounds that consent was given.
Affirmative consent laws have passed in NSW. Every survivor and expert who helped this through changed the world today. Thank you. https://t.co/vDVBZTbMCQ
— Saxon Mullins (@SaxonAdair) November 23, 2021
The new bill closes this loophole by recognising that sexual consent is not be presumed, and that consent involves ongoing and mutual communication. In a statement earlier this month, Leong said: āThe Bill puts victim-survivors at the heart of the law, and removes rape myths and assumptions from the Crimes Actā.
Now, in sexual assault cases, the burden of proof is on the accused who must now show they had affirmative consent, rather than the victim to prove they didnāt. The bill was initially introduced by Cronulla MP and Attorney General and Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Mark Speakman in October.
Speakman described the reform as “common sense”.
āļøToday I introād a bill into @NSWParlLA to bring common decency to our sexual assault laws.
āļøConsent to sexual activity should not be presumed; it should be communicated.
šThanks to @SaxonAdair for advocating #affirmativeconsent + @NSWLawReform for its important work. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/GemEasZ7fy— Mark Speakman (@MarkSpeakman) October 20, 2021
The bill passing todayĀ is a huge win for survivors of sexual assault in NSW.
Help is available if you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual assault, rape or violence.Ā If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
You can speak to someone about sexual violence by calling the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 orĀ chat online.
You can reach Kids HelplineĀ at 1800 55 1800 orĀ chat onlineĀ if you are under 25.