Australia's minister for women says the justice system does not have the right balance when it comes to supporting people who make sexual assault complaints.
Katy Gallagher said she cast "no aspersion" on the important principles of the presumption of innocence but the federal government had a responsibility to reform systems and processes to better support complainants who were predominantly women.
"We have a responsibility ... to see where we can make a difference to ensure that women do feel able to come forward, they are supported through that process, they are encouraged to report violence and that it will not cause them to be re-traumatised," she told ABC Radio.
"I don't think we've got the right balance at the moment."
Last week, ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold announced he would drop charges against the man accused of raping former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins, due to the impact of a retrial on her mental health.
The case demonstrated the personal toll in seeking justice for alleged sexual assaults.
While the minister would not comment on Ms Higgins' specific case, she said she was working with her state and territory colleagues to address problems with the justice system for sexual assault complainants.
"A lot of the levers are with the states and territories and many of them are looking at how they reform their laws in light of the experience women are having in the justice system," Senator Gallagher said.
But part of the challenge was about addressing a culture where violence against women was prevalent.
Senator Gallagher said sexual and domestic violence and coercive control were at "unacceptable" levels and those problems needed to be addressed before they got to the justice system.
"I fundamentally believe the Commonwealth government has to provide leadership in this space," she said.
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