Today is National Survivors’ Day and, together with the Honourable Jeremy Buckingham MLC, I was proud to host an afternoon tea to honour and commemorate the courage of survivors of sexual assault and institutional abuse.

I am truly grateful to the survivors who attended and shared their stories, so we might better understand the profound and ongoing harm caused by abuse.

Advocates explained a 2024 High Court decision has exposed a gap in NSW, which means an organisation cannot be held vicariously liable for child abuse committed by someone who was not employed by the organisation. While Victoria and the ACT have reformed the law to close this loophole, NSW is yet to act.

A technical distinction regarding an abuser’s employment status should not determine a survivor’s access to justice.

I’ve signed a joint letter with other MPs urging the Government to make the law fairer for all survivors of institutional sexual abuse. Read the letter below.