1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: There's new anti stalking laws coming. That was the sound 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: by the way of the report. Let me just do 3 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: that again for you. No, no, no, don't do it on 4 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: that console. 5 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 2: You'll break it. 6 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a little bit of a bounce. It actually bounced. 7 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: There are new anti stalking laws coming and they've been 8 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: changed up considerably because of the Select Committee process. Now 9 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: the new law is going to be triggered after two 10 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: specified acts within twenty four months. Originally it was three 11 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: within twelve. Now the definitions have also been adjusted as well. 12 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: Ruth Money as the Chief Victim's Advisor to Government and 13 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: is with us. Ruth, morning to you, good morning, and 14 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: reading this yesterday, I was quite inspired by the Select 15 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: Committee process because I've been a bit down on it. 16 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: You know, it's just like people sit around and going 17 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: and nothing happened. So clearly at times change does come 18 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: as a result of the Select Committee. Because this seems 19 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: fairly substantive. 20 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 2: I have to say I agree with you. Yes, you know, 21 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 2: all too often I have set in front of Select 22 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 2: committees with people who have got the most durable lived 23 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 2: experience begging politicians please listen to me, let's change this. 24 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 2: You've got your opportunity to change this to protect us. 25 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: This is my experience, and then a report comes out 26 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 2: and you go, what were you even in the room? 27 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly. So two and twenty four I thought it 28 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: was interesting about because I don't know much much about this, 29 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 1: But two and twenty four was based on anniversaries and birthdays. 30 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: So in other words, if you're chasing somebody or stalking somebody, 31 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: it's an event day that often triggers it. So three 32 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: and twelve was in theory fine, but two and twenty 33 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: four makes more sense. Do you agree with that? 34 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 2: Well, I don't agree. Three and twelve was ever fine, 35 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 2: and I was very vehemently opposed. Shall we say to that? 36 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 2: Two in twenty four makes a lot more sense, and 37 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,759 Speaker 2: I am super happy with where we've lended. I mean, 38 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 2: the devil is always going to be with how we 39 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: implement that, which, of course, with any act, that's what's 40 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 2: going to happen now, So that will be police training, 41 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 2: there'll be specialist services to make sure that everybody is 42 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 2: acting appropriately. 43 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: Well, that was the next thing I was worried about, 44 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: because prescription and law is not necessary reality on the street. 45 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: So when you ring the police and say here's the 46 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: bloke outside my letterbox. Does it get acted on no 47 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: matter what the law says. 48 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 2: Well, it should, and obviously that the police need to 49 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 2: work through their implementation. That's certainly the intent of the law. 50 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 2: But what the intent of the law is not to 51 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: do is just to intervene and arrest the crying boyfriend, 52 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 2: for example, who has just sent a not so harmful 53 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 2: text where he, I'm completely generalizing, is moping and is 54 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 2: a bit sad. What this is about, you know, stalking 55 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 2: is a pervasive behavior and it's a pattern of behavior 56 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:40,239 Speaker 2: that is inciting fear. So what this two and twenty 57 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 2: four does is allow the police to warn the person 58 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: that their behavior is not appropriate. Now, obviously we also 59 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 2: need to work with the victim on that because in 60 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: some cases warning an offender, for example with interpersonal violence, 61 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 2: will just escalate and make things more awkward and dangerous 62 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 2: for the victim. Will be done with science and evidence 63 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 2: to make sure that those who are dangerous stalkers. And 64 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,639 Speaker 2: let's not forget that this behavior escalates, right, we have 65 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 2: seen this escalate into use is a fear, a campaign 66 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,639 Speaker 2: of fear. But then there is violence, and unfortunately we 67 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 2: have got cases of death. So we need to make 68 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: sure that the police have got the powers to stop 69 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,639 Speaker 2: this behavior and prevent victim good. 70 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: All right, well let's hope it's on the right track. 71 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: We'll last Mark and cover it off with the police 72 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 1: Minister after. I appreciate your time. As always, there Ruth Money, 73 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: who's the Chief Victim's Advisor in government. For more from 74 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: the My Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks. It'd 75 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.