I acknowledge the contribution made by my colleague and friend the member for Miranda. I thank her for speaking so powerfully to the harrowing experiences of her constituent. I make a contribution in debate on the Criminal Procedure and Other Legislation Amendment (Victim Experience Reforms) Bill 2026. As we heard from the Minister and the Attorney General earlier in debate, the purpose of this proposed reform bill is to amend some important Acts—the Criminal Procedure Act 1986, the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 and the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999—to improve victims' and complainants' experience of the justice system in criminal proceedings, especially in relation to sexual offences and domestic violence offences, as well as to improve their experience in apprehended violence order [AVO] proceedings under the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007.

The bill provides for a whole raft of important reforms across a number of Acts, based on substantial consultation conducted by the Department of Communities and Justice in 2025 and 2026 looking at three reform areas. The amendments in the bill give effect to some recommendations that came out of that consultation to improve victims' and complainants' experience of the criminal justice system. As we heard from the member for Miranda, these are very harrowing and tough issues to discuss, but they are important reforms. The bill covers off three specific reform areas: a pilot program of ground rules hearings for adult sexual offence trials; harmonising some special procedural protections in domestic violence and sexual violence matters and AVOs; and technical amendments to the sexual assault communications privilege.

It is incredibly important that victim-survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence feel that they can seek justice without risking further harm to themselves or their loved ones. As those of us who have worked in this space or listened to constituents—or those across the State who, with some risk, share their stories—would know, when participating in criminal proceedings, victim-survivors repeatedly recount traumatic events and are subject to rigorous and often distressing cross-examination. That risks re-traumatising victim-survivors and disincentivises many from reporting their experiences to authorities. Our justice system should not just hold offenders accountable; wherever possible, it should also minimise the trauma experienced by victims of serious crime.

To victim-survivors, our criminal justice system should not be something to be endured. As we heard from the member for Miranda, and as I have heard many times in my work and in my life, victim‑survivors talk about it being a bruising and invasive experience and an often horrific process in and of itself, outside of the original experience. To address this, the bill expands the circumstances under which complainant testimony may be given in recorded form rather than in person. This offers an alternative to re-traumatising victims in the first instance. But I note that cross-examination may still be undertaken and the court may rule against using a recording if the court considers it is not in the interests of justice.

The bill establishes a pilot scheme—which has been welcomed by people across the board—for ground rules hearings. It will run for three years from March 2027. It applies to cases for prescribed sexual offences tried in the trial areas of Parramatta, Wollongong and Dubbo. Ground rules hearings allow courts to adjust proceedings to be sensitive to the particular needs of complainants. That is a really important inclusion in these reforms. Courts are required to consider communication, support or other needs of the complainant, and give orders on the conduct of proceedings that facilitate those needs.

I acknowledge the important work and advocacy undertaken over a considerable number of years by Unions NSW and others, including the Australian Services Union, Nina Funnell, and Full Stop Australia, particularly in recent times in the "Don't Subpoena Our Support: Keep Counselling Confidential" campaign, which I agree with. The proposed reforms in the bill do not cover all of the requests of that campaign; however, a separate review next year will consider the feasibility of allowing for entirely pre-recorded evidence.

I thank the Attorney General and Ministers. A few of my colleagues have been involved in this piece of work. I also thank their advisers and, importantly, all of the victim-survivors—those with lived experiences who have contributed to the making of this bill—and all of those who work in this difficult space and contribute to legislative reforms. This place often takes a long time to take steps towards important reform. We are ever urged by our constituents to move faster, to make reforms yesterday. Unfortunately, life does not work like that. But I feel very proud to be standing here today as part of a government that knows that we do need to take those steps. I commend the bill to the House.