Character References in Child Sex Offence Cases

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON (15:21): My question is to the Attorney-General regarding good character references. Attorney-General, how many child sex offenders have used good character references as a mitigating factor in sentencing since March of 2022?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:22): I thank the honourable member for her question. I am happy to take that on notice and see if there are any statistics in relation to that. I am guessing what references are used for particular offences is unlikely to have statistics recorded, but as I said I am very happy to take that on notice and see if statistics are recorded. As we have traversed in this chamber before, this is an issue that is being looked at federally. It has been raised at the Standing Council of Attorneys-General (SCAG), where all jurisdictions are now contributing and looking at the issue of character references in the case of such offences.

I think, as we have talked about in this chamber before, I have had the very interesting pleasure of benefiting from meeting with advocates who are victim survivors of childhood sexual offenders and who are pushing for these reforms. I think it is an area that, as I have said, I am keen to see if there can be national consistency on. I think that is the better way to go in these sorts of areas, but as I told advocates for this reform and as I am happy to inform the chamber, if there is not a national approach it is something where in South Australia we will certainly look at going alone. It was very much impressed upon me that having an offender—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: You can interject when I am talking about the experiences of survivors of child sexual offending, but I don't think it's a particularly good look, but I will leave that for you and your judgement about whether you think that's appropriate or not. As I was saying, the victims of childhood sexual offending are often retraumatised by someone who attempts to use the fact that someone thought they are a good bloke notwithstanding the terrible thing these vile monsters have done to children, so it is something we are absolutely taking very seriously.