“I chose an alias to protect my identity but it was a choice I made,” Holly* said.
“But that’s the thing. Sexual assault victims and survivors have no choice and control over what happens to them.
“And once your case goes through the system, you’ve got very little say over what happens to your case or how the charges play out in the judicial system.
“Every day people aren’t given the voice and the power and control over their cases that they should be given.”
Now this new Victorian law is taking further control away from them by gagging survivors whose attackers have been found guilty.
“It’s oppressive and archaic, especially considering it is to be applied retrospectively and at the victim’s own cost in court,” Holly said.
“It’s a massive step back and failing to every single victim of sexual assault who chooses to use their name in the media.
“I think it’s really important that victim survivors are able to use their name or not. It’s a personal choice that shouldn’t be taken away from them.”
It took almost 20 years to see Pryse jailed for three years over four counts of sexual penetration of Holly as a child under 16.
“Our case was Victoria’s longest running prosecution case so it was a really exhausting process,” she said.
“There is a gap in my life. Part of my life will never properly be resolved. And there is nothing I can do about that.”
However, reversing the sexual assault law was a step forward for every survivor.
Holly is one of countless survivors supporting the #LetUsSpeak campaign which aims to overturn the law.
“I don’t think anyone apart from convicted rapists, sex offenders and pedophiles are celebrating this legislation,” she said.
“I can only hope that it was a drafting error and the law is repealed as soon as possible.”
* not her real name
#LetUsSpeak is a campaign formed in partnership with End Rape On Campus Australia, Rape and Sexual Assault Research and Advocacy and Marque Lawyers.
- If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or domestic violence, call the Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 806 292 or CASA on 5441 0430 or visit casacv.org.au
- If you feel unsafe or are concerned for someone’s safety, call 000 or contact police.
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