Community
3 March, 2025
Words from alleged gang rape victim
THE victim of an alleged gang rape at Manunda has written a powerful statement which was read by her friend at an anti-violence and sex attack rally attended by more than 500 people on Sunday.
“What happened to me last week was horrific. It should not have happened to anyone. It should never happen again, but until we start talking about all the parts of accountability and justice, sadly, it might,” said a statement by the Manunda victim read by spokeswoman Ella Shannon Morter.
“I want accountability and justice and this means different things to different people,” she said.
“To me, it means that sexual violence, which is highly gendered and primarily committed against women, is recognized and treated as a serious crime by the justice system, it means that perpetrators of sexual violence are held responsible for their actions, because there is no excuse ever.
“And for me, accountability and justice for what happened last week should be as much about prevention as about punitive action … I don’t believe we can jail our way out of this if we truly want a safe and just community. True justice goes beyond retribution. It is about fairness, accountability and creating a society where harm is not just punished, it is prevented.”
Victims of sexual assault and youth crime shared their testimony to hundreds of anguished Cairns residents and public officials at the community rally for justice on Freedom Park this Sunday to ask for law reforms on youth crime and rape.
Signs reading ‘enough is enough’ and ‘do the crime, do the time’ were a common sight on Sunday at the rally organised by Brynie Rosser-Guyatt, Allissa Tenni and Emily Cocks-Wheeler in protest to the alleged Manunda gang rape.
More than 500 people demanded a reform to the judiciary system which they claim is too lenient with criminals under 18.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, deputy mayor Brett Olds, Bob Katter, Barron River MP Bree James and Minister for Youth Justice Laura Gerber attended.
Over a dozen of residents stood up to tell their stories involving sexual assault, home invasion and youth crime, they all called for harsher penalties and law reforms to prevent young re-offenders to get leniency and harsher penalties for breaking bail and heinous crimes like rape.
Although there were talks about the importance of prevention, the community was mainly calling for harsher penalties coming from judges in crimes of rape and even for Castle Law to be legislated.
“I have been raped in this city. I have had a home invasion. I know other people that have been raped, and it's not going to stop until the mothers of young boys start bringing their sons up to show respect,” said victim Skye Foster to the crowd.
“There’s a death penalty for rape in Singapore and I felt safer there than I do here.”
Rob Drew from Kanimbla also stood up to speak on his experience with youth crime and he said youth offenders should be as accountable as adults.
“I've had to get up on a number of occasions, at least three or four, and chase perpetrators away from our place and our neighbours’,” he said.
“Us blokes are just as scared as anyone else. I'm a big bloke, and when I get up to chase people away from my house, I shit myself.
“Adult crime, adult time. Every child in this country, unless they have an inability to understand what right and wrong is, should know by the age of 10, right from wrong.
“If you're 14 and you use a knife to rape someone, you know that you are making a conscious decision to do wrong.”
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said she saw the pain of the community and she would continue to advocate with the government for change.
“Crime is not just a statistic or a headline, it’s real people, real families, real businesses and seal lives that are being shattered,” she said.
“Absolutely no one deserves to live in fear in their own homes and that’s exactly what we’ve heard time and time again today.
“So let me say this clearly to those in power our community, cannot wait. We need action, and we need now.
“We’re ready to be the first to trial new programs, whatever it takes, our city can lead the way in finding solutions.
“We need immediate intervention, because we will not stand by while our city suffers. So to my beloved community, I ask this of you, please stay strong, stay focus, stay united and please look after one another because enough is enough.”
The organisers of the rally said it had been a productive afternoon and an opportunity for the community to be heard by their politicians.
“We only expected about 30 people to show up but I think we got a head count of almost 1000 people here today,” Ms Cocks-Wheeler said.
“It was really amazing to see not only everyone come out but the amount of support for the people that stood up to speak today, it was good knowing that the community was standing around us and listening.”
