Trigger warning: This article discusses sexual assault and rape.
It’s not a great time to be a woman in Australia right now. It seems that every other day, another allegation appears in the news of a woman being sexually assaulted or raped — Australia is long overdue for a reckoning with its failures around consent.
Scott Morrison’s comments about women can actually prevent women from coming forward with allegations — however, his statements and viewpoint are not unique to him or his political party.
However, in news that broke last night, another allegation — against yet another member of parliament — has come to light. The allegations were made public in NSW Parliament by Labor MP Trish Doyle, who revealed that a male MP in the Berejiklian Government is under police investigation for allegedly raping a female sex worker in the Blue Mountains.
Shortly after this news broke, in The Sydney Morning Herald, did MP Michael Johnsen identify himself via statement as the person accused. He has resigned as parliamentary secretary and is taking leave “effective immediately”, according to reports from The Guardian.
The woman who made the allegations claims she did not consent to penetrative sex — and Johnsen is accused of assaulting her in this manner.
Courtesan Alina Ambrosia* spoke out about the allegations, saying “Sexual violence is a reality and a huge concern, not for just sex workers but for women in general! My heart goes out to this woman because she was on the receiving end of an abuse of power. Violence against women in any form is not okay, but an all too true scenario, way too often…”
Sadly, this case is not uncommon when it comes to sex workers. A fact sheet from the Sex Workers Project says that globally, sex workers have a 45-75% chance of experiencing sexual violence on the job. Although recent individual statistics for Australia were difficult to find, Women’s Health West states that “Stigma, discrimination, and violence are widely experienced by sex workers in Australia” — which includes “rape, theft and harassment.”
And if you’re sitting there wondering why they don’t report these instances to police — firstly, please re-think that statement — and second, a survey of female sex workers found that the women “perceived the police as sharing the public’s prejudice or believed they would be ignored, and therefore did not often report physical violence or rape.”
A publication by the former Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault finds that “The stigmatisation of sex workers, the tendency to interpret the effects [of sexual assault] as consequences of being a sex worker rather than a victim/survivor of sexual assault, and the very real risks of being penalised by police if they should report, leave survivors with limited room for effective disclosure and support.”
Only time will tell if a (white) man actually faces consequences for his alleged actions — and in the meantime, here is a guide on how to disclose sexual assault to a friend, how to practice self-care during a time like this, and how to cope with a triggering news cycle. You know, because the burden typically falls on women in times like these, instead of those who it should fall on.
If you or someone you know needs help, please contact BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a sexual assault, please contact the Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence National Help Line on 1800 Respect (1800 737 732) or head to The Australian Human Rights Commission for a list of state by state resources.
*Name have been changed to protect identity.
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