The Tasmanian majority Liberal Government is inviting community input on a Bill that will amend the Evidence (Children and Special Witnesses) Act 2001 to establish a Pilot Intermediary Scheme in Tasmania.
This Bill delivers on a key Government commitment to implement a number of recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The Pilot Intermediary Scheme will be a state-wide program that utilises witness intermediaries to assist children and adults with communication needs to participate in the criminal justice system.
Witness intermediaries are trained professionals with specialist skills in communication. Intermediaries act impartially and assist vulnerable witnesses to give their best evidence by identifying a witness’s communication needs and assist the court, legal practitioners and the police.
The introduction of this legislation demonstrates the Tasmanian majority Liberal Government’s strong commitment to enhancing access to justice for survivors of child abuse.