Enable victim-survivors to pre-record their testimony in Victoria - Email your MP

Right now we’re at a critical moment of Fair Agenda’s campaign to support sexual assault survivors to give testimony on their own terms. This campaign calls for victim-survivors to have the option to pre-record their evidence - allowing them to share their experiences outside the often intimidating and retraumatising courtroom environment. To make real change, we need Fair Agenda members to take action.

At Fair Agenda, we believe meaningful change happens when decision-makers see how many of us care about an issue. By contacting your local member of parliament, you’ll help show MPs the level of community support ...

Right now we’re at a critical moment of Fair Agenda’s campaign to support sexual assault survivors to give testimony on their own terms. This campaign calls for victim-survivors to have the option to pre-record their evidence - allowing them to share their experiences outside the often intimidating and retraumatising courtroom environment. To make real change, we need Fair Agenda members to take action.

At Fair Agenda, we believe meaningful change happens when decision-makers see how many of us care about an issue. By contacting your local member of parliament, you’ll help show MPs the level of community support for reform. It’s a chance to ensure MPs understand the importance of supporting victim-survivors wellbeing when seeking justice through the court system.

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Email your local MP in Victoria

Too many victim-survivors in Victoria are forced to recount some of the most painful moments of their lives within a public courtroom, sometimes in front of the person who harmed them.

This experience can be profoundly retraumatising, and completely out of touch with the mounting evidence that shows that for many victim-survivors a better option is to pre-record their testimony. This means they can share their story in a private, secure setting, away from the intimidating atmosphere of the courtroom.

Can you email your Victorian representative asking them to amend legislation to enable better access to pre-recorded testimony?

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Compose your email

Subject:

I’m writing to show my support for Fair Agenda’s campaign to give sexual assault survivors more choice about how they give evidence. This campaign calls for survivors to have the option to pre-record their testimony, so they don’t have to share their experiences in a stressful, intimidating courtroom.

Right now, many survivors have to wait over a year to give evidence at trial. This long wait causes huge anxiety and distress. When the trial finally happens, they have to describe deeply traumatic events in front of a jury, often with the person accused sitting right there.

Fair Agenda’s model for pre-recorded testimony would let survivors record their evidence earlier, in a safer, more supportive setting. Research shows this can ease trauma, help survivors feel more prepared, and make their evidence clearer and stronger.

What I am calling on the government to do:

Give survivors the choice: Change the law so victim-survivors can choose how they give their evidence - whether that’s pre-recorded or another way - instead of leaving it up to the judge.

Make the process more flexible: Make sure it doesn’t matter if the same judge or lawyers are present at every hearing. This will help avoid delays and stop survivors from having to testify again in court.

Let courts choose where and how evidence is recorded: Allow courts to hold pre-recording hearings in more flexible, informal settings - including by video link - so survivors don’t have to travel long distances or be cut off from support.

Empower courts to order the editing of pre-recorded evidence: Include a provision for courts to edit recorded evidence for admissibility and relevance.

What needs funding to make this work:

Better facilities and tech: Invest in good-quality recording equipment, safe storage for evidence, remote witness rooms, and accessible spaces for everyone.

Training for court staff: Fund proper training for judges and lawyers on using pre-recorded evidence and working with survivors, including cultural training and more female legal personnel so that more Aboriginal women will have access to female prosecutors, legal representation and court staff.

More support for survivors: Make sure survivors know their options and have access to legal advice, intermediaries, and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors to guide them through the process.

Qualified interpreters: Provide trained interpreters for every step of the legal process - with support to manage the impacts on them of hearing traumatic evidence.

These changes are vital to creating a legal system that truly supports and respects the well-being of victim-survivors.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

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