UPDATE: LEGISLATVE REFORM

As of 2 December 2025, three Australian jurisdictions have commenced the pathway to critical legislative reforms by tabling and/or passing Bills to reverse the decision of the High Court in Bird v DP. This is excellent news.

On 30 October 2025, the ACT passed, unopposed, the Civil Law (Wrongs) (Organisational child Abuse Liability) Amendment Bill 2025. 

On 12 November 2025, WA tabled the Civil Liability Amendment (Child Sexual Abuse Actions) Bill 2025. 

On 19th November 2025, Victoria tabled the Justice Legislation Amendment (Vicarious Liability for Child Abuse) Bill 2025. 

We are very disappointed with the WA Bill, as it carves out/excludes sexual assaults against children by volunteers. This should not be negotiable.

We need to apply pressure on the following jurisdictions to stand up and do the right thing by victims/survivors of institutional child abuse and push ahead with urgent legislative reform:

NSW; Queensland; South Australia; Tasmania; the Northern Territory.

We also need to urge the Attorney-General of WA to amend their Bill to include (not exclude) paedophiles who are volunteers.

Please write to the Attorney-General in each of these jurisdictions urging them to follow the lead of Victoria and the ACT. (See judy@judycourtinlegal.com for details)