Grace Tame's abuser was convicted of "maintaining a sexual relationship with a child" by a Tasmanian court. In other Australian jurisdictions he would have faced charges of "persistent sexual abuse of a child".
Ms Tame has spent her time in the public eye sharing her experiences as a sexual assault survivor and making recommendations for positive change, including for there to be a nationally consistent legal definition of child sexual assault.
In her speech at the National Press Club yesterday, Ms Tame pointed out the importance of language in the charging of abusers.
"Still today, perpetrators of abuse find safety in outdated, inconsistent legislation which both protects them and perpetuates social ignorance.
"Piece by piece we must correct the narrative and take control away from abusers who have for so long sought solace in our systems and institutions that shield them from the full extent of what they have done."
In light of Ms Tame's calls, ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury has announced the family violence legislation amendment bill, which he will introduced to the Legislative Assembly today.
One of the changes in the bill will see the offence of "sexual relationship with child or young person under special care" changed to "persistent sexual abuse of child or young person under special care", making it consistent with most other Australian jurisdictions.
'We have a responsibility to act': ACT Attorney-General
Ms Tame also called for changes to legal definitions during the meeting of attorneys-general in November last year. Mr Rattenbury said that was the catalyst for the new bill being prioritised.
"I was struck by Ms Tame's powerful advocacy last November," he said.
"This is simply persistent sexual abuse of a child. That is how the offence should be named, and I think having a clearer name gives power back to the victim-survivors."
Ms Tame addressed the ACT's new bill in her National Press Club speech, praising the change but warning more needed to be done to create nationally consistent laws that protected survivors of abuse.
"Whilst I commend the ACT on overhauling these laws, we need to ensure that every state and territory adopts the best practice model of not only the charge itself, but the complete wording of the legislation," she said.
"Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia have all adopted the wording of persistent sexual abuse, but Victoria and Western Australia are the only two jurisdictions in which the word relationship does not appear anywhere in the body of the legislation. We still have so much work to do.
Bill seeks to reduce trauma for victims of family violence
Other key aims of the family violence legislation amendment bill are reducing trauma for family violence victims involved in court proceedings, and strengthening sentencing options for perpetrators of family violence.
If passed, the bill would create an aggravated offence for family violence, meaning magistrates and judges would have the power to send convicted abusers to prison for longer.
It would also limit cross-examination on the contents of victim impact statements in cases of family violence, and create a legislative requirement to review the Family Violence Act 2016 every three years.
In a statement, Mr Rattenbury said the amendments to family violence laws were intended to give assault victims access to justice in a way that minimised retraumatising them.
"Key priorities [of the bill] are reducing barriers for victim-survivors to access justice, and introducing more effective mechanisms to ensure family violence offenders are held to account continues," he said.
"I believe these reforms will improve victim survivors' experience with the justice system.
"Victim survivors have shared their lived experiences, and too often, the criminal justice process is a re-traumatisation that victim survivors endure.
The family violence legislation amendment bill is expected to receive tri-partisan support.
