WA pushes to bar positive character references in sexual offence sentencing

Calls are growing in Western Australia for a ban on positive character evidence in sexual offence sentencing, following a case where three Western Power staff were stood down for submitting references for a former coworker convicted of rape. Under existing law, judges can weigh character references, and in this instance the references contributed to a five-year jail sentence for 59-year-old Jeffrey David Spinner. The WA government has already outlawed such references in child sexual assault cases but has not yet decided on adult cases.

Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson described the staff’s actions as a "terrible lapse in judgement," while Attorney General Tony Buti said eliminating the references would shield victims from additional harm. Advocacy groups and Greens spokesperson Jess Beckerling argue the practice re-traumatizes survivors and urge swift legislative action before the parliamentary session ends.