Grace Tame's 'completely shocking' discovery during live TV interview
Activist Grace Tame has found out she was not consulted on the National Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse during an awkward moment on live TV.
Ms Tame, The 2021 Australian of the Year due to her advocacy for survivors of sexual assault, was speaking on the ABC with presenter Ros Childs on Friday.
Childs brings up the National Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, adding “presumably” Ms Tame, a survivor of sexual assault herself, was consulted on it.
“What can we expect?” Childs asks to which a bemused Ms Tame shakes her head.
She says, “no” and confirms she was not asked about the plan.
“I haven’t been involved in the drafting of that,” Ms Tame says.
“I assume you would have liked to have been?” Childs asks.
“Sure,” she replies.
“I mean. That’s my job and I’ve been banging on about it all year that we should be focusing on prevention but I’m not going to be malcontent and complain that I haven’t been invited to participate in that.
“That’s great. That’s great.”
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Childs asks when she first learned of the strategy.
“When you just told me just now,” she says.
The strategy is a recommendation by the Royal Commission "and will focus on preventing child sexual abuse in all settings including in institutions, within families, and online".
Believe it or not, I wasn’t at all surprised to learn for the first time today—live on national television—that I hadn’t been consulted on the National Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse.
I’d like to share some constructive insights on the reality of working in this space: pic.twitter.com/WKgI0EUL6k— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) October 22, 2021
Ms Tame tweeted after the interview she was not surprised to learn she had not been consulted about the strategy.
She added a number of advocacy bodies also were not spoken to.
“What would be really refreshing to see is the federal government admit it overlooked the voices that really matter here. There’s still time. I for one haven’t given up yet,” Ms Tame tweeted.
On Twitter, others weren’t exactly pleased with the fact Ms Tame wasn’t given the chance to provide some sort of insight.
“This is completely shocking and at the same time, totally expected,” one woman tweeted.
One man tweeted the strategy is “poorer” without Ms Tame’s input.
“The thousands of victims have yet again been let down by the system. I am so angry,” another woman tweeted.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800 RESPECT (737 732) for the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service; Sexual Assault Support Services on 6231 1811 or after hours 6231 1817; Family Violence Crisis and Support Service on 1800 608 122 and Bravehearts – Sexual Assault Support for Children on 1800 BRAVE 1
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