The Queensland Government’s new Sexual Violence Review Board has met for the first time.
The Government says the Board’s nine members will identify and review systemic issues in relation to the reporting, investigation and prosecution of sexual offences to ensure victims are proactively supported and offenders are held to account.
The Board is being chaired by Queensland’s Victims’ Commissioner, Rebecca O’Connor, who has extensive experience working in health, child protection, domestic, family, and sexual violence services across Australia.
Deputy Chair is Diane Macleod, who is the Founder and Director of the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence, a director of the Red Rose Foundation, and sits on several advisory bodies including the Queensland Sexual Violence Prevention Roundtable.
Board members include:
- Rebecca O’Connor (Chair)
- Diane Macleod (Deputy Chair)
- Nathan Crane
- Sarah Cruickshank
- Brian Connors APM
- Catherine Crawford
- Cressida Monypenny
- Debra Fletcher
- Dr Ian Home
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support, Laura Gerber said the new Board was another step towards ensuring victims’ rights are prioritised.
“For a decade, Labor put the rights of offenders before the rights of victims and failed to protect or support victims of sexual violence throughout the justice process,” Minister Gerber said.
“The Sexual Violence Review Board will address the current gaps in the system and deliver recommendations to strengthen legislation and systems around sexual violence to better protect victims.
“We must put victims at the heart of justice, and that starts with giving them the support and respect they deserve throughout the justice process”.
