Media briefing: consent in sexual assault offences

09/11/2007

The new president of the Bar Association, Anna Katzmann SC, hasn't wasted any time engaging the media. Together with Stephen Odgers SC, chair of the Criminal Law Committee, she went on a number of�talkback radio shows�expressing the association's concern about the�Crimes Amendment (Consent - Sexual Assault Offences) Bill 2007, which�was introduced�in�the Legislative Council�on 7 November.

On Virginia Trioli's programme, Ms Katzmann told the estimated audience of 82,000 people: "The government should certainly be applauded for its interest in protecting the position of victims.� But, it's always important to get the balance right in criminal law.� We don't believe this legislation does that."

She went on to say: "Our primary concern...is with the startling change, which removes from the criminal law, the obligation on the prosecution to prove that the accused had a guilty mind."

The president also went on the John Laws Show, while Odgers SC went live on the 2UE Breakfast show with Peter Fitzsimons and Tim Webster.

Transcripts and audio files of the interviews are held in the Bar Library .

9 November 2007

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