JODI MCKAY MP
NSW LABOR LEADER 

TRISH DOYLE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR WOMEN 

MARJORIE O'NEILL MP 
MEMBER FOR COOGEE 

NSW MUST DO BETTER ON RESPECT AND CONSENT

 
NSW Labor is demanding urgent action on consent education and respectful relationships after the Government failed to outline plans to support thousands of young people who shared stories of assault and harassment suffered while at school.
 
The testimonies from students – including some as young as 13 – were part of an online petition started by Chanel Contos, a former student of Sydney’s Kambala Girls’ School.
 
During Budget Estimates today, the Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor was unable to answer questions on the issue and refused to raise the matter with the Education Minister.
 
The Attorney General has failed to respond to a Law Reform Commission review into sexual consent reforms and the Minister for Education has failed to act on consent education.  
 
NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay has called out the Government’s failure to act.
 
“Young people are speaking up but the Premier and her Ministers have been silent. We need a whole-of-government approach inside and outside of the classroom.
 
“Thousands of young people have shared their experiences in recent weeks, young people are at risk and the Government needs to act.
 
“Other states are acting, Queensland today launched a review of the school sexual education curriculum, but there’s no plan or action from the NSW Government.”
 
Shadow Minister for Women Trish Doyle said: “We have recently heard disturbing reports of sexual assault in high schools.”
 
“The Queensland Government have outlined a roadmap to deal with this issue but the NSW Government is missing in action.
 
“The Minister for Women should be leading the way on this issue but she has no plan. The Minister for Education and Attorney General also have a role in ensuring schools provide better education on consent, and do so much earlier. If important issues like this aren’t their responsibility, I don’t know what is.”
 
Ms Doyle and the Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill have spoken today with young women’s advocate, Chanel Contos, whose Teach Us Consent campaign has seen over 2,900 young people come forward with testimonies and over 30,000 signatories to a petition.
 
Shadow Minister for Education, Prue Car said: “It starts with respect. Young women deserve to be respected in all aspects of their lives. This must include a proper understanding of consent that is taught when our kids are at school.”
                                    
Shadow Minister for Youth Jihad Dib said: “There’s a solution here and it involves everyone. We owe it to the brave young people in our community, particularly those who have stepped up to tell their stories, to do something about this.”
 
Member for Coogee, Marjorie O’Neill added: “Sadly, what we are talking about here is not just an issue in schools, it is a whole of society problem. Young women in my community want action from Government. 30,000 women signed a petition but there has been no response from the NSW Government.”
 
THURSDAY, 11 MARCH 2021