Fair Agenda

This election we have a critical chance to secure changes to Queensland's archaic archaic laws. But to make that happen -- we'll need to ensure that a majority of pro-choice candidates are elected to the next parliament.

That means ensuring that we as pro-choice voters are supporting candidates that will represent us on this issue.

That's why Fair Agenda have asked all candidates to commit that, if elected, they will “vote to remove abortion from the criminal code, and support laws to ensure all Queenslanders can safely and legally access full reproductive healthcare, without being harassed or intimidated." That means we've asked candidates if they would support three specific reforms if they are put to the parliament (you can read the pledge question in full below).

Fair Agenda's pledge ask has also backed by The Human Rights Law Centre, Women’s Legal Service Queensland, White Ribbon and the Queensland Council of Unions.

So far 154 QLD candidates have signed up to Fair Agenda's pro-choice candidate pledge!

You can find out whether your local candidates have taken the pledge below (to find your electorate, just input your address in this ECQ tool).

Then can you help build the pressure on the remaining candidates to join these pro-choice champions; or to let voters know that they think abortion should keep being treated as a crime? Sign up to get involved in the campaign for safe and legal access to abortion, here!

Which candidates have taken the Fair Agenda pledge so far?

*Please note: This list only contains the candidates who have said yes to Fair Agenda's pledge question. Other responses that have been received from candidates' will be released by Fair Agenda in coming days.

This election we have an historic opportunity to win safe and legal abortion in Queensland... 

Fair Agenda's analysis shows that there are enough pro-choice candidates challenging anti-choice MPs in key marginal seats to tip Queensland’s parliament to a pro-choice majority at this election. That's exactly what we need to change these archaic laws.

But to make that happen, it will take all of us. Can you help? Sign up to get involved in the campaign for safe and legal access to abortion here: http://www.fairagenda.org/decriminalise_qldelection

The Fair Agenda pledge question

Fair Agenda has asked all candidates to pledge that if elected:

I will vote to remove abortion from the criminal code, and support laws to ensure all Queenslanders can safely and legally access full reproductive healthcare, without being harassed or intimidated.

Specifically, taking the pledge means that candidates commit to support reforms that:

1. Treat abortion like other medical procedures, as a private decision for the pregnant person in consultation with their doctor, up until 24 weeks gestation. And also provide legal access to abortion beyond this point if the pregnant person consents and two doctors determine there is a risk of harm if the pregnancy is not terminated. (This is consistent with the Victorian Law Reform Commission's recommendations and Queensland clinical practice regarding foetal viability). 
   
   
2. Ensure a doctor's personal beliefs don't get in the way of their patient's access to reproductive healthcare; by requiring doctors who oppose abortion on the basis of their personal beliefs to refer a patient seeking advice on, or provision of, an abortion to another provider who doesn't have the same opposition.
   
   
3. Create safe access zones that prevent harassment and intimidation within 150m of premises that provide abortion.

This pledge ask is also backed by: The Human Rights Law Centre, Women’s Legal Service Queensland, White Ribbon and the Queensland Council of Unions.

Candidates can add their response to Fair Agenda's pledge question at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FA_Qldelectionpledge

- Authorised by R.Carr, Fair Agenda, 673 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.-

The 103 candidates who have signed up to Fair Agenda’s pro-choice pledge are willing to be champions on this issue. To win this – we need to make sure others are willing to step up and join them. We won’t be able to do that if all our pro-choice champions are hearing is backlash.

Can you help show pro-choice champions they’ve got community support, by sending them a quick email to thank them for taking the pledge?

Send all our pro-choice champions an email thanking them for taking the pro-choice pledge by bcc'ing all the email addresses.

Who has taken the Fair Agenda pledge so far?

*Please note: This list only contains the candidates who have said yes to Fair Agenda's pledge question. Other responses that have been received from candidates' will be released by Fair Agenda in coming days 

Fair Agenda has asked candidates to commit that, if elected, they will “vote to remove abortion from the criminal code, and support laws to ensure all Queenslanders can safely and legally access full reproductive healthcare, without being harassed or intimidated." Specifically asking candidates if they would support three reforms (you can read the pledge question in full below).

Fair Agenda's pledge ask has also backed by The Human Rights Law Centre, Women’s Legal Service Queensland, White Ribbon and the Queensland Council of Unions.

Today’s Australian Human Rights Commission report has revealed that 6.9% of university students were sexually assaulted on at least one occasion in 2015 or 2016.

The report has found that 10% of students who were sexually assaulted in a university setting in 2015 or 2016 experienced the most recent incident at a university residence; and 21% experienced the most recent sexual assault at a university or residence social event.

Yet a recent survey by community group Fair Agenda has shown that right now most residences are failing to invest adequately in prevention.

Fair Agenda approached all of Australia’s university residences with a survey asking what, if any, training they provide to students and staff in consent and prevention sexual violence.

Of the 218 residences approached, just 129 have responded to the Fair Agenda survey so far. And of those, only 60 have indicated that they are involving a sexual assault service in the provision of this year’s student training.

“It’s not good enough. We know that sexual assault is an issue at universities, and at residences – and they should be doing everything possible to ensure student safety. That includes investing in prevention and consent training.” Says Renee Carr, Executive Director of Fair Agenda.

“We hear from so many students that there’s a real desire to become better educated in this area. They don’t feel they know what it means to get informed consent.” Says Sharna Bremner, End Rape on Campus Australia.

“What’s more, it’s absolutely critical that any staff responsible for student welfare receive training in how to provide an appropriate response to someone who has just been through this kind of trauma. Right now many staff are not equipped to respond appropriately - meaning that students who work up the courage to try and report what's happened to them are sometimes being re-traumatised through that process." She added.

The data released today also shows that 63% of people who saw another student being sexually assaulted in 2016 did not take action in response to the incident.

Ms Carr added: “Residences should be training students and staff around preventing sexual violence – to make sure they understand things like consent and prevention, how to respond appropriately if somebody discloses that they’ve been raped, and how to safely intervene if you see someone acting predatorily towards one of your friends.”

“It’s also vital that training is being delivered by experts – which means involving a sexual assault service. But so far less than half of the residences who have responded to Fair Agenda’s survey have indicated that they are doing that. Students deserve better." Ms Carr concluded. 

The full results of Fair Agenda’s residence survey can be accessed at www.fairagenda.org/residences_survey

MEDIA CONTACT

Renee Carr, [email protected] 0435 597 976

Available for comment:

Renee Carr, Executive Director of Fair Agenda 0435 597 976

Sharna Bremner, End Rape on Campus Australia, 0401 02 249

Nina Funnell, End Rape on Campus Australia Ambassador 0438 479 831

Allison Henry, The Hunting Ground Australia Project, 0410 690 910

Fast facts on Fair Agenda’s survey:

• Residences approached with survey: 218 
• Residences who have responded to the survey: 129   

Of those:

o Residences who are training all students in preventing sexual violence: 106

o Residences that are involving experts from a sexual assault service in student training: 60

o Residences that are training all staff w welfare responsibilities in preventing and responding to sexual violence: 107

o Residences that are involving experts from a sexual assault service in that staff training: 66

Great news! After weeks of campaign pressure, Australia’s Universities have just announced that they will establish the dedicated specialist counselling hotline for students affected by sexual assault that Fair Agenda members have helped call for!

Just last month survivor advocates revealed that Universities around the country were leaving survivors of sexual violence without adequate support. That students who had been raped or sexually assaulted during their studies were being told they would have to wait up to four weeks for a university counselling appointment, and that others who had dropped out of their degrees as a result of their assault were being refused access to university counselling services altogether.

It was a system that was failing student survivors. And things were about to get much worse, with an upcoming report on sexual violence at universities expected to trigger even more disclosures and demand for services in just a few weeks.

Then student group End Rape on Campus and survivor advocate Nina Funnell launched a call for action -- and Fair Agenda members stepped up and helped them build the pressure on universities to stop leaving rape survivors without adequate support.

In just a few days thousands of us signed the petition calling for Universities to fund the hotline, and shared powerful messages urging the Vice Chancellors and Universities Australia to stop leaving students without the support they need, including members who shared powerful messages like:

“This hotline would have changed my life and saved me years of suffering if it had existed years ago. Let's make things better for future.”

"Before I retired 20 years ago I was an academic member of an Australian university. I am appalled to hear that all this time later an issue over which I and other women campaigned is still current."

"A timely response and ability to ensure all students affected by sexual assault have access to decent counsellors trained in trauma counselling is crucial if the student is going to be able to recover... Universities need to take responsibility for this."

Then, ahead of a key meeting, Fair Agenda delivered your messages and petition signatures of support to all 39 Vice Chancellors, and the head of Universities Australia -- to make sure they knew how many alumni, students, survivors and community members backed the call for them to ensure best practice, trauma informed counselling is provided to students who have been affected by violence on campus. And just how many people would be watching and awaiting their decision.

And, together with End Rape on Campus, survivor advocate Nina Funnell and the National Union of Students – Fair Agenda members' advocacy worked! Today Universities Australia announced that they will establish a dedicated specialist counselling hotline for students affected by sexual violence during their studies.

It’s a huge win that will make a difference to the thousands of current and former students who are expected to need this service.

Together, the actions of Fair Agenda members are helping to drive really important wins that are improving the lives of tens of thousands of women.

This is a really important win. But it’s not the only thing that needs to change if we’re going to address the problem of sexual assault on campus. We also need to ensure all residences are providing training in consent and preventing sexual violence. Can you add your support to that campaign as well?

-More info-

Victory for students: Free hotline announced for victims of sexual assault, News.com.au, 22 July 2017.