Legislative reforms are to be fast-tracked following concerns raised by victim-survivors about their ability to share their stories.
Attorney-General Jill Hennessy said the changes would mean the majority of victims would no longer require a court order to tell their stories.
“I have immense respect for victim-survivors who have the courage to speak out about their experiences and advocate for positive change,” Ms Hennessy said.
“We hear you and we will take action,” she said.
She said the new laws would provide an important protection to maintain the privacy of sexual offence victims and help ensure they are not exposed to additional distress.
“They were never intended to inhibit willing victim-survivors being able to speak out and share their stories,” Ms Hennessy said.
She said the Department of Justice and Community Safety would convene a series of roundtables with victim-survivors this month to seek input and discuss the proposed reforms.
“The voices of victim-survivors are a powerful and important part of the justice system,” she said.
“Their expertise will be invaluable as we make these urgent changes.”
She said the amendments were being developed urgently in order to be introduced to Parliament this year.
Ms Hennessy said the Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC) recently recommended a raft of changes to the Judicial Proceedings Reports Act, including changes to clarify and simplify the circumstances in which identifying information about a victim could be lawfully disclosed.
