Crimes Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence) Act 2024 (114 of 2024)

Schedule 1   Amendments

Crimes Act 1914

26   After section 15YC

Insert:

15YCA Evidence of sexual reputation - vulnerable adult proceedings

Evidence of a vulnerable adult complainant's reputation with respect to sexual activities is inadmissible in a vulnerable adult proceeding.

15YCB Evidence of sexual experience - vulnerable adult proceedings

(1) Evidence of a vulnerable adult complainant's experience with respect to sexual activities is inadmissible in a vulnerable adult proceeding, unless the court gives leave.

(2) The court must not give leave unless the court is satisfied that:

(a) the evidence is substantially relevant to facts in issue in the proceeding; and

(b) the evidence has substantial probative value; and

(c) either:

(i) the evidence is of sexual activity that is alleged to form part of a connected set of circumstances in which the alleged offence was committed; or

(ii) if the evidence is of sexual activities with a defendant in the proceeding - the evidence relates to sexual activity that occurred or was recent at the time of the commission of the alleged offence.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a), the evidence is not to be treated as being substantially relevant to facts in issue merely because of inferences it may raise as to the vulnerable adult complainant's general disposition.

(4) Without limiting the matters to which the court may have regard in deciding whether the evidence has substantial probative value for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), it is to have regard to:

(a) whether the evidence tends to prove that the vulnerable adult complainant knowingly or recklessly made a false representation when the complainant was under an obligation to tell the truth; and

(b) the period that has elapsed since the acts or events to which the evidence relates were done or occurred; and

(c) whether the probative value of the evidence outweighs any distress, humiliation or embarrassment to the vulnerable adult complainant.