Queensland Well being should “instantly” cease charging sexual assault victims who aren’t lined by Medicare for the prices related to forensic examinations and assessments, a taskforce has discovered.
The apply of charging victims has “distressed” vacationers, worldwide college students, migrants and refugees, the ultimate report of Queensland’s Ladies’s Security and Justice Taskforce stated.
The taskforce heard some victims have been unable to pay for examinations, prompting invoices to be despatched to a household deal with abroad. This has resulted in emotions of concern and disgrace, in addition to “gross” breaches of privateness, the report stated.
“Queensland victim-survivors shouldn't be required to pay for his or her entry to justice,” the taskforce discovered.
“Requiring victim-survivors who're ineligible for Medicare to pay for any part of a forensic medical examination is unacceptable and may instantly stop. The price of offering forensic medical examinations for victim-survivors of sexual violence ought to be solely borne by the state.”
The report didn't define the prices for such examinations however Guardian Australia understands there are not any charges inside the Queensland Well being Charges and Prices Register that relate particularly to medical examinations.
Nevertheless, victims who're ineligible for Medicare could also be charged a whole lot of dollars in session charges and for pathology assessments.
Di Macleod, director of the Gold Coast Centre In opposition to Sexual Violence, stated one girl was billed $800 for pathology testing this 12 months after a sexual assault.
“That quantity is pretty customary,” Macleod stated.
“We have been capable of help her to get the prices wiped … however those that don’t have Medicare are sometimes essentially the most susceptible and don’t have prolonged help networks.”
She’s additionally conscious of insurance coverage firms refusing to cowl medical prices related to sexual assault.
“Put your self of their place: you’re in a foreign country, it’s not your first language and also you’re making an attempt to get medical help,” Macleod stated.
“You’re experiencing trauma from a current assault, and now you’re sitting there pondering, ‘How the hell am I going to pay this?’”
The taskforce’s closing report, launched final week, made 188 suggestions to enhance remedy within the felony justice system, together with for Queensland Well being to make sure rape kits are at the very least of constant high quality as these utilized in New South Wales and Victoria.
The Queensland package consists of six swabs – half of what's required to conduct a full forensic examination, the report stated.
Angela Lynch, from the Queensland Sexual Assault Community, stated “nobody ought to be dealing with out-of-pocket bills” for rape kits or accidents for against the law dedicated in opposition to them.
“Queensland survivors deserve essentially the most up-to-date and quality-assured kits to make sure they've the very best likelihood within the felony justice course of,” Lynch stated.
A Queensland Well being spokesperson stated the division has been “fastidiously contemplating” the suggestions.
“Our laboratories obtain a big quantity of samples for processing and at all times attempt to supply outcomes to the Queensland police service as promptly as attainable,” they stated.
“We have now applied reforms … [including] investing $1.39m to extend coaching in forensic procedures in all public hospitals.”
The Cairns Sexual Assault Service informed the taskforce that a 16-year-old rape sufferer was informed by hospital employees to return 36 hours later – and to not bathe or bathe within the interim – as they have been “too busy to see her”.
The report referred to a different victim-survivor who stated a “class of errors” noticed policing dropping proof, together with clothes worn within the assault in opposition to her by three alleged rapists. Just one individual was charged based mostly on DNA proof and the officer who misplaced the proof was fined, based on the report.
Julie Sarkozi, a solicitor on the Ladies’s Authorized Service Queensland, stated the state’s excessive DNA necessities have resulted in stories being withdrawn.
“WLSQ has spoken to numerous survivors who’ve been suggested police are unable to research complaints due to inadequate proof because the pattern isn't thought-about correct in Queensland,” Sarkozi stated.
“This can be a horrible injustice … Queensland survivors deserve higher.”
A fee of inquiry into DNA testing on the state’s Forensic and Scientific Providers laboratory is below manner.
Queensland police have been contacted for remark.
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