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Sexual assault survivors are being immediately affected by a news cycle dominated by stories of rape and abuse, and the way politicians and journalists talk about the stories heavily influences their responses, counselling services say.
Stories of sexual assault, abuse, grooming and harassment have dominated headlines since Australia Day, when 26-year-old survivor Grace Tame was named Australian of the Year.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been forced to address the issue repeatedly after Brittany Higgins spoke out about her alleged rape in Parliament House. Historical rape allegations were also made against federal Attorney-General Christian Porter, who has vigorously denied the claims.
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The rarefied and entitled boys-only private school network has created massive imbalances and injustice in the halls of power, public policy and broader society.
By
Mike Seccombe.
Christian Porter as a Hale School student.
Credit: Supplied
Francis Greenslade was never really part of the privileged class that runs our country. But he came close enough to get a good look at it, warts and all. Greenslade – an actor, teacher, writer, translator, musician – is probably best known through his work on the ABC’s satirical television show
Mad as Hell. But in his youth, he had another claim to fame, as a champion debater.
Porter must go: Youth survivors speak out against sexual violence
On Friday afternoon, around 250 students attended a snap rally at Town Hall called by School Strike 4 Climate activist Danielle Villafaña.
March 13, 2021
On Friday afternoon, around 250 students attended a snap rally at Town Hall called by School Strike 4 Climate activist Danielle Villafaña. The rally demanded the firing of Attorney-General Christian Porter following recent revelations of sexual assault, and additionally called for the firing of Federal Defence Minister Linda Reynolds.
The rally heard many testimonies from survivors of sexual violence. Shanaya Donovan, a seventeen year-old Dharug woman who chaired the rally alongside Villafaña, spoke on her personal experience of sexual harassment and argued for better protections for vulnerable women and girls: “Today, seventeen year old me is standing here, urging you to step in and protect the young girl with her school skirt all the way down to her ankle