Senators from all side of politics have united to condemn universities for being untrustworthy, inconsistent and opaque in the handling of sexual assault complaints.
They also said education ministers should work to train the teaching workforce so thatBut Scarr said the senators were particularly passionate about establishing an independent taskforce “with strong powers” to oversee how universities prevent and respond to sexual violence in their communities, including their complaints processes.
“The committee lacks confidence that the university sector as a whole will respond appropriately to the crisis without strong intervention. This is a regrettable conclusion that the committee does not come to lightly. Waters said the government should take note, given the senators had combined to make strong recommendations on a crucial issue. “It feels like we have a moment here,” she said.”We need respectful relationships education and a national campaign that starts in schools, [and] goes right through to universities ... Thousands of students, mostly young women but also young men, are facing utterly preventable sexual assault and rape on campus.
Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said she welcomed the report as a step towards addressing “the societal issue of sexual harm”.
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