MP wants women to sign sex contracts
ANN Bressington today confirmed she was serious that women should sign a contract before sex to combat false rape allegations, if proposed laws are passed.
The independent MP yesterday told Parliament the planned new laws - which make it an offence to continue a sex act with a person after consent if they changed their mind - would make it easier for men to be accused of rape.
Hansard transcript - Read Ann Bressington's comments in Parliament
She also claimed "one-night stands" and casual relationships would become a "high-risk activity". "Perhaps this parliament could devise a contract which men could carry around in their pocket, next to their condoms," she said during a speech to Parliament.
"There could be a waiver should a man meet up with a woman who has had a couple of drinks before they engage in sexual intercourse.
"The contract may contain the name and address of the women, with her driver's licence number, so that the man can see the signatures match, clauses that state that the woman has or has not been drinking or taking drugs - licit or illicit - and that she consents to foreplay."
The proposed contract would also include details of the woman's marital status, whether she has children and whether she consents to being taken to another location to engage in sexual activity.
Bressington: Yes, I was serious
On ABC Radio this morning, Ms Bressington confirmed she thought men should carry sex contracts if the current Bill passed both houses of Parliament.
"(The Bill) opens the door to more false allegations that are already occurring. Men will have no defence from women falsely crying rape," she told the ABC morning show.
"This Bill makes men guilty until proven innocent and they will have no defence."
When quizzed further about the contract idea, she said she was serious because it would prevent men being falsely accused.
Fellow independent MP Kris Hanna, who has been pushing for new consent laws for years, said the Bill's intention was to prevent men being able to claim consent was given in ridiculous situations - such as when a women was unconscious or blind drunk.
"We are trying to encourage reasonable conduct," Mr Hanna told the ABC. He said juries "usually come up with a commonsense result" in the types of cases Ms Bressington was referring to.
Controversial Bill
The same controversial Bill led Independent MP Bob Such to claim T-shirts emblazoned with provocative slogans encouraged sexual assaults when it was debated in the Lower House earlier this year.
Ms Bressington said the planned laws "make men guilty until proven innocent" and suggested the low conviction rate in rape cases was because of inadequate investigative practices rather than poor laws.
She said government was invading "our bedrooms or even the back seat of our cars".
Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service director Vanessa Swan said the laws brought SA in to line with other Australian states.
"I think it is a really positive development and will improve the situation for victims of sexual assault," she said.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23475662-5006301,00.html
The independent MP yesterday told Parliament the planned new laws - which make it an offence to continue a sex act with a person after consent if they changed their mind - would make it easier for men to be accused of rape.
Hansard transcript - Read Ann Bressington's comments in Parliament
She also claimed "one-night stands" and casual relationships would become a "high-risk activity". "Perhaps this parliament could devise a contract which men could carry around in their pocket, next to their condoms," she said during a speech to Parliament.
"There could be a waiver should a man meet up with a woman who has had a couple of drinks before they engage in sexual intercourse.
"The contract may contain the name and address of the women, with her driver's licence number, so that the man can see the signatures match, clauses that state that the woman has or has not been drinking or taking drugs - licit or illicit - and that she consents to foreplay."
The proposed contract would also include details of the woman's marital status, whether she has children and whether she consents to being taken to another location to engage in sexual activity.
Bressington: Yes, I was serious
On ABC Radio this morning, Ms Bressington confirmed she thought men should carry sex contracts if the current Bill passed both houses of Parliament.
"(The Bill) opens the door to more false allegations that are already occurring. Men will have no defence from women falsely crying rape," she told the ABC morning show.
"This Bill makes men guilty until proven innocent and they will have no defence."
When quizzed further about the contract idea, she said she was serious because it would prevent men being falsely accused.
Fellow independent MP Kris Hanna, who has been pushing for new consent laws for years, said the Bill's intention was to prevent men being able to claim consent was given in ridiculous situations - such as when a women was unconscious or blind drunk.
"We are trying to encourage reasonable conduct," Mr Hanna told the ABC. He said juries "usually come up with a commonsense result" in the types of cases Ms Bressington was referring to.
Controversial Bill
The same controversial Bill led Independent MP Bob Such to claim T-shirts emblazoned with provocative slogans encouraged sexual assaults when it was debated in the Lower House earlier this year.
Ms Bressington said the planned laws "make men guilty until proven innocent" and suggested the low conviction rate in rape cases was because of inadequate investigative practices rather than poor laws.
She said government was invading "our bedrooms or even the back seat of our cars".
Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service director Vanessa Swan said the laws brought SA in to line with other Australian states.
"I think it is a really positive development and will improve the situation for victims of sexual assault," she said.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaide
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