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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-14 Daily Xml
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RAPE AND SEXUAL OFFENCES

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Volunteers, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister Assisting in Early Childhood Development) (15:19): As a woman, and particularly as the Minister for the Status of Women, can I say that I am disappointed in the extreme in the statements that the member for Fisher has been making and continues to make. If his comments were not so harmful we could dismiss them as silly rantings. But when they come from a publicly elected figure they are much more serious. The last thing we need to give rapists and those who attack and abuse women is an excuse, justification for their actions. 'Her T-shirt said she wanted it. Her dress indicated she was available. Wasn't my fault.'

Rape and sexual assault are crimes of extreme violence. They are not crimes of passion. They are violent. They injure and scar people, some never able to recover. The member for Fisher's comments appear to be the Anglo version of the raw meat statements. Is he really saying that reading a few words on a T-shirt incites men to rape? That a short skirt is an invitation? Is he saying that we need to go back to covering our ankles to be safe from predatory male behaviour?

What about women who have been assaulted in their bed by people breaking into their home, or when walking in parks during the day or coming home from the railway station from work? Women do not ask to be raped or sexually assaulted. What he has done is direct attention away from the very important reforms in relation to rape and sexual assault that are being dealt with in these Houses of Parliament.

I called on the member for Fisher yesterday to withdraw his comments and apologise. I again repeat that request. Instead, he has chosen to elevate the issue. On what basis can he claim that young women do not help things by carrying a message on their T-shirt? He says that women are demeaning their sex—I think he means 'gender'—and that some clothes could lead men to lose respect for them. By whose measure? Who will be his fashion police? Can we place the same criteria on men?

A number of people have echoed my concerns. The chairperson of the Premier's Women's Council, Pat Mickan, said:

No matter what they wear, that person has a supreme right to be safe. That's the important focus here.

Michael Dawson of the Victim Support Service says that no-one should feel threatened because of what they wear. Women (and men) have an absolute right to dress however they like; to recreate where they wish, and to be safe in those pursuits of their lifestyle. Marilyn Rolls of the Women's Electoral Lobby said:

But it's often that situation where you're blaming one person or you're blaming the victim and a whole lot of it is about attitudes and I just think that women would feel that this is a step backwards.

Can the member for Fisher identify incidents linked to words on T-shirts with rape? I do not think so.

As I said, he is demeaning the important debates that are being undertaken at the moment, he is demeaning victims of rape and sexual assault, and he is demeaning our men here in South Australia. I take particular umbrage at that, being the mother of sons. He is providing justification and excuses where there are none. I urge him to stop doing so, and I urge him to apologise to women here in South Australia.

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