Victorian Labor pledges life sentences for rapists, curbs on victim questioning
Premier Ben Carroll announces election commitments to strengthen penalties for sexual assault and restrict cross-examination of victims in domestic violence cases.

Premier Ben Carroll said Labor would legislate a new form of manslaughter for cases in which a person takes their own life as a result of family violence, and introduce a new offence for perpetrators abandoning victims in need of medical care, if re-elected.
The reforms would increase the maximum penalty for rape to life imprisonment and prevent barristers from asking victims humiliating questions during cross-examination, according to the announcement.
Sources
- Rapists could face life sentences and barristers prevented from ‘putting victims on trial’ under Victorian Labor reforms — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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