Media Release - Aitchison Demands The Berejiklian Government Release Its Sexual Assault Strategy Following Spike In Offences

06 June 2018

Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jenny Aitchison is demanding the Berejiklian Government release its Sexual Assault Strategy, following the dramatic increase in offences in NSW over the past two years.
Data released today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research show a 7.2 percent increase in sexual assault offences while there has also been a 6.3 percent rise in indecent assaults and other sexual offences.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Pru Goward announced the development of a NSW Sexual Assault Strategy in October 2015, but no action has been taken since a “progress report” into the strategy was published a year later.
Ms Aitchison slammed the NSW Government for their appalling lack of regard for the welfare and safety of women, in failing to produce a Sexual Assault Strategy almost three years after announcing it.
Recent studies by BOCSAR also revealed that the NSW Government’s attempts to reduce domestic violence have largely been ineffective – despite the Premier’s target of reducing domestic violence reoffending by 25 percent by 2021.
Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Minister Jenny Aitchison
“This Government is all talk and no action when it comes to violence against women.
“The Premier likes to talk about doing her homework – yet this project is almost 3 years overdue.
“I urge Minister Goward to release the Sexual Assault Strategy and prove that she is taking this issue seriously.”