Shock at mistrust over sexual violence claims

ALMOST half of Australians say they do not trust women’s allegations of sexual violence, according to a shocking report from the country’s peak women's safety organisation.

Speaking at the National Press Club on Wednesday, Australia National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety head Sam Mostyn said Aussies’ mistrust of women‘s’ disclosures was not reflected in the actual incidence of false sexual assault claims.

“Insights from the national community attitudes towards violence against women survey reveal as many as four in 10 Australians mistrust women’s report of sexual violence – four in 10 or 40 per cent of the Australian population,” Ms Mostyn said. “This is despite the fact that false allegations of sexual assault are extremely rare.”

The sizeable body of research on sexual assault allegations estimates that somewhere between 2 per cent and 7 per cent of assault claims are false.

Ms Mostyn slammed the prevalence of mistrust in women’s disclosures in Australia, stating there was an “appalling level of sexual harassment and assault in this socalled Lucky Country”.

“Domestic violence is a sure pathway to the often desperate levels of financial stress among Australian women,” she said.

Ms Mostyn’s frustration comes as Labor announces a powerful new role would be created to advocate for domestic violence victims under their new election pitch.

The hundreds of new positions would cost $153.4m over four years and include case workers to help women set up new lives after fleeing domestic violence.

Under the plan, 500 extra community sector worker positions would be created to help women in crisis.

The roles would also be made up of financial counsellors to help women escape debt their abuser has run up in their name and support workers to sit with children and help them work through their experiences. Half of the roles would be based in rural and regional communities.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese was also to announce a plan to create a family, domestic and sexual violence commissioner on Wednesday.

The commissioner, whose position would be paid for out of departmental costs, would work with states and territories to oversee Australia’s response to the scourge of domestic violence. One woman is killed every week by a current or former partner.

Mr Albanese said the commissioner would ensure resources were invested where needed across the country and also write a yearly report for accountability and transparency.