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Grace Tame rebukes Scott Morrison for his handling of sexual assault claims

The Australian of the year, Grace Tame, has rebuked the prime minister for his rhetoric and handling of sexual assault claims that have engulfed his government.

Tame, a survivor of sexual assault who has been a fearless advocate for fellow survivors and the need to change how the nation and the law handles their cases, was asked to address Scott Morrison admitting he needed his wife to understand the allegations raised by Brittany Higgins.

Morrison said his wife, Jenny, had “clarified” the issue for him.

“She said to me: ‘You have to think about this as a father first. What would you want to happen if it were our girls?’” the prime minister told the media last month, after Higgins went public with her allegation of rape.

Tame, who could not directly address the allegations that have consumed the parliament, was succinct in her response. “It shouldn’t take having children to have a conscience,” she told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday. “And, actually, on top of that, having children doesn’t guarantee a conscience.”

2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame addresses the National Press Club.
2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame addresses the National Press Club. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Tame received a round of applause from the room for her answer. She was then asked whether Morrison was living up to his words from 2019, when he said he hoped rape survivors felt they would be believed.

“Clearly not,” she said.

Tame said she did not find it surprising the nation was grappling in its understanding of issues surrounding sexual assault.

“Cover-up culture, the abuse of power, is not unique to parliament,” she said. “So it’s not necessarily these individual cases. It’s the issue itself that is going to keep inspiring me to do this work. I was doing this work before it dominated the national stage.

“You know, and it is heightened right now, because it’s happening in the centre of our country, in parliament. But like I said, it’s not unique to parliament. It happens everywhere.”

In a powerful speech, which reduced a room of some of the nation’s most powerful men and women to silence, Tame said the only way to change the situation was to allow survivors to be heard.

“There’s a lot of things in this world that are ugly and dark,” she said. “But we have to remember that we’re all human beings. And that ugliness and darkness is unfortunately important because it helps inform how we move into the light.”

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Much has been written on Tame’s own story, and the ultimately successful campaign to change Tasmanian law to allow survivors a voice in their own stories. Before the #letherspeak campaign, survivors were not legally allowed to share their stories. Tame, working with other survivors and journalist Nina Funnell, lobbied to have the law changed, enabling Tame and others to tell their stories and take back the narrative.

But while grateful for her platform, which has grown in the past five weeks since she was named Australian of the year, Tame pointedly reminded journalists to take care with those stories.

“Listening to survivors is one thing – repeatedly expecting people to relive their trauma on your terms, without our consent, without prior warning, is another,” she said. “It’s sensationalism. It’s commodification of our pain. It’s exploitation. It’s the same abuse.

“Of all the many forms of trauma, rape has the highest rate of PTSD. Healing from trauma does not mean it’s forgotten, nor the symptoms never felt again.

“Trauma lives on in ourselves. Our unconscious bodies are steps ahead of our conscious minds. When we’re triggered, we’re at the mercy of our emotional brain. In this state, it’s impossible to discern between past and present. Such is retraumatisation.

Grace Tame speaks at The National Press Club.
Grace Tame speaks at The National Press Club. Photograph: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

“I cried more than once while writing this. Just because I’m been recognised for my story doesn’t mean it’s fair game anywhere, any time.

“It doesn’t get any easier to tell. I may be strong but I’m human, just like everyone else.”

Her strongest message, though, was saved for fellow survivors.

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“It is our time,” she said. “We need to take this opportunity. We need to be bold and courageous; recognise that we have a platform on which I stand with you in solidarity and support. Share your truth – it is your power.

“One voice, your voice, and our collective voices can make a difference. We are on the precipice of a revolution whose call to action needs to be heard loud and clear. That’s right, you got it. Let’s keep making noise, Australia.”

• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. International helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org.