It doesn’t matter how many people think you’re a ‘good bloke’: Victoria to abolish good character references.
New laws to be introduced in Victoria in the middle of 2026 will mean that victim survivors of sexual violence won't have to listen to their perpetrator be described as a good person during sentencing hearings.
SASVic welcomes this announcement, which along with affirmative consent laws introduced in 2023, sends a strong message about who is responsible for sexual violence, shifting the burden off of survivors.
Thank you to Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny for this important change.
SASVic would also like to thank the survivor advocates who campaigned for this change, particularly Harrison James and Jarad Grice, who started the Your Reference Ain’t Relevant campaign in NSW.
“The message is increasingly clear - it doesn’t matter how many people think you’re a ‘good bloke’. If you rape someone and you’re found guilty, you can’t escape the consequences of your actions.”
However, we must note that most survivors of sexual violence never see their perpetrator sentenced. Most sexual assault is never reported, and, even what it is, it doesn't make it to court. This reform needs to be part of a bigger transformation of the justice system and our society.