WE THE UNDERSIGNED RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH

We the undersigned are opposed to the continuing failure of schools in the Northern Territory (NT) to provide consent and sex education past Year 9. Although schools are given resources to teach consent education through high school, decisions about what to teach and whether to teach this at all are made on a school level. In our opinion this is simply not good enough. 

One reason why 87% of women do not report their attacks to police is uncertainty created by misinformation and general lack of education. Many victims have no idea of their rights and responsibilities after an attack, as well as often not knowing that something that happened to them even was a sexual assault. Better and mandatory consent education would help reduce the prevalence of this issue, as well as destigmatising and reducing shame surrounding conversations about and reporting of sexual assault. In addition to this, further education will help potential assailants understand their responsibilities to people and the effects of assault, and so may prevent future assaults, as well as providing victims with information on what they can do if an assault does occur. 

The Victorian government implemented mandatory consent education in all schools this year. We ask that the NT Government follows in their footsteps to make school a safe and respectful space for all students. 

YOUR PETITIONERS THEREFORE HUMBLY REQUEST THAT

The Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory recommends;

1. For comprehensive, continuous and compulsory consent education in public schools to be mandated by curriculum and/or legislation for high school students, including education around coercive control, porn literacy, and the legal rights and responsibilities of victims, offenders and others

2. For victim-first policies to be implemented that protect people who feel at risk, particularly in schools

3. Education to be provided for police, educators, lawyers and therapists around how to interact with potential victims without retraumatising them, as well as reforms in the police system to ensure that follow-ups will take place

4. Transparency of investigations from schools and police to ensure that victims feel heard and know that their story will be taken seriously.