NEW laws to better protect Canberra’s young people have passed through the Legislative Assembly today. 

The new laws, which will ban sexual relationships between young people and those in positions of authority, will strengthen laws already in place to protect the community’s most vulnerable, says Attorney General Simon Corbell.

“There is no tolerance in our community for people in positions of authority like teachers, coaches and carers to take advantage of the young and vulnerable members of our community and I am pleased to see that these laws have received the majority support of the Assembly today,” Mr Corbell says.

“While the vast majority of adults are great mentors to young Canberrans, it is upon the government to ensure that there are adequate laws in place to protect against the few cases where the position of trust is might be exploited.”

Mr Corbell says the new laws would also strengthen the Sexual Assault Reform Program to protect vulnerable victims and witnesses when giving evidence in sexual and violent offence matters as well as vulnerable victims providing Victim Impact Statements.

“Sentencing for property and drug offences will also be enhanced with the introduction of an offence for possessing a tablet press and greater clarity will be provided for drug pre-cursor, damage property and affray offences,” he says.

The Act will also better enable the courts to take into account an offender’s engagement with court ordered drug and alcohol assessment at the time of sentencing.