Camilla Belich: Labour Justice Spokesperson on consent laws

Labour says it's a shame the Government isn't pushing through new consent laws right now. 

National has announced if re-elected, it'll ensure consent has to be actively given, meaning there must be a "yes" rather than the absence of a "no".

It says it brings us in line with other jurisdictions like the UK and parts of Australia. 

Labour Justice Spokesperson Camilla Belich told Ryan Bridge she agrees with the policy and says her party's been trying to get it across the line. 

She says National walked away from a bipartisan plan - instead opting to campaign on the change. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
National's plan changed to sex consent laws. Getting very political
this morning. If re elected, they've said they would change
the law. It must be an active yes beforehand, not
just the absence of a no.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
There are tens of thousands of people every year according
to the surveys, who are victim of sexual violence in
some way or form, and so this change is not
going to dramatically change that overnight, but it is sending
a clear signal.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
Right joining us is Carmel about its Labor Justice spokesperson,
come a good morning, Good morning. What's the problem here?

Speaker 3 (00:33):
Well, first of all, that is a policy that the
Labor Party agrees with and it's something that we've been
working on on a bipartisan basis to try and get
introduced to the House before this election.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
Great, so what's the problem They don't want to do
it before the election.

Speaker 3 (00:49):
They Yeah, they don't want to. So that's a real
shame actually, and we're really disappointed about that because you know,
not everything can be in our political system can be
put forward in a bipartisan manner. But this been something
that one of our committees of Parliament had been working on.
We'd had some work on drafting a bill together and
we'd had a briefing from the Hell and Clark Foundation

(01:11):
on some research that they've done onto this, and we'd
decided to move forward. And then unfortunately at our last meeting,
the National Party said that they were walking away from
it and they were going to do what they've done today,
which is release their own policy and campaign on it
for the election, rather than introducing it to Parliament and
making the change.

Speaker 1 (01:27):
The justice that he receives the Justice Select committees under
the pump at the moment. I mean, is there realistically
room that started the election to do what it is
you're saying they should do.

Speaker 3 (01:37):
Well. Look, I'm sit on the Justice Committee, so I'm
well aware of the amount of work that we have.
But the issue that the choice that the National Party
is making is they could make a choice to join
with other parties and get this issue on the order
paper and that means that it gets on the order
paper on the next member's day, it can have its
first reading and then it will be there until after

(02:00):
the election. No matter who is it means it happens.

Speaker 1 (02:04):
It's a symbolic means it means it.

Speaker 3 (02:06):
No, it means it happens. The National Party at the
moment is saying this, this will only happen if you
vote for us, and you know obviously and everything gets negotiated.
So this is the way of guaranteeing it it will.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
Happen if we vote for you, though too, wouldn't that
I mean, well.

Speaker 3 (02:23):
Yeah, what if it's something that there's a lot of
agreement on. But you know, I don't know about you,
but for me, I always think a bird in the
hand are when something you can guarantee will happen is
actually when priorities come up is much better and much
more suited than looking at you know what may happen
after the election.

Speaker 1 (02:41):
Do you know what hope is therefore, bipartisanship in this country.
If when you do agree on something, you can't agree
to do it.

Speaker 3 (02:48):
Well, I think it's a real lost opportunity. I think
it's a shame. And you know it's not too late.
The National Party can come back and they can support
this bill and we can make it happen.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
All right, Hey, good to have you on the show
this morning. Come about labor just the spokesperson For more.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
From Early Edition with Ryan Bridge.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
Listen live to News Talk Set B from five am
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