Tanya Plibersek speaks out about university rape threat while launching sexual harassment project
Updated
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek has spoken about a rape threat she received during her time at university, saying it is "heartbreaking" that little has changed.
Key points:
- Plibersek says she was received rape threat when at university
- An independent survey of university students about sexual harassment launched today
- Education Minister says "ensuring respect of women across the country" a Government focus
Ms Plibersek, the Opposition's spokeswoman for education and women, made the comments today while launching a university sexual assault and sexual harassment project in Sydney.
She told attendees of her time as women's officer at the University of Technology Sydney, where she helped campaign against sexual harassment and sexual assault on campus.
"I was stalked at university and when we had our sexual harassment campaign, I got a phone call in the middle of the night threatening to rape me because we had a sexual harassment campaign," she said.
"It breaks my heart that more hasn't changed since then."
The project, called Respect. Now. Always., is a joint effort by Universities Australia and the Australian Human Rights Commission.
It includes an independent survey of students, in addition to open submissions.
Minister for Education Simon Birmingham also provided a statement for the launch, which outlined the "importance and value" of the initiative.
Senator Birmingham also cited the $100 million in funding the Coalition has put towards its campaign against domestic violence.
"As you know, the Turnbull Government is focussed on ensuring respect of women across the country," it read.
"Sexual assault and abuse have no place in our society."
Topics: university-and-further-education, community-and-society, sexual-offences, law-crime-and-justice, government-and-politics, federal-parliament, federal-government, australia
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