00:01There's been a nationwide campaign to abolish good character references for criminal offences
00:08and a move like this would bring South Australia in line with states like New South Wales and
00:12Western Australia. A review of the laws was also a recommendation from the state's Royal
00:18Commission into Domestic Family and Sexual Violence. References are used in courts to
00:24advocate for shorter sentences for criminals on the basis of their good character. Currently in
00:30South Australia it's banned from being considered for child sexual offences if their good character
00:36may have played a role in the offending but it can be used if the offending occurred without an air
00:42of good character or they have a lack of prior convictions. Now the South Australian government
00:47is looking at expanding the ban to cover this and all criminal offences. We've been told by
00:54survivor advocates that it can be dehumanising to sit in court and hear the person who harmed them
01:01be described as a good, kind and caring person but we've also heard from a criminal barrister who says
01:08banning good character references could potentially deprive a judge of information in sentencing.
01:14They say judges need to balance all relevant information to get an ideal outcome. Now there will be a
01:21consultation period and then a new bill will be introduced into state parliament next year.
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