Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Multicultural Engagement) Share this | Hansard source

Another issue, Minister, which was raised during the inquiry—and again I'm just seeking comfort that, from the government's perspective, this has been satisfactorily closed out by the proposed amendments to the bill—was the need to prohibit unrepresented defendants from being able to cross-examine complainants in sexual violence cases, with appropriate provision made for defendants to be represented by a lawyer for the purpose of any such cross-examination. With respect to the legitimate concerns about the potential for unrepresented defendants to cross-examine complainants, is it the government's position that that has now been closed out through the government's proposed amendments to the bill?