Thank you, Speaker. Hon Minister, thank you for the announcement, which we as the ACDP fully support.
Arising from your response, let me say that there has been reluctance from magistrates to sit in specialist sexual offences courts, as they find it emotionally draining. I'm sure you will agree that all those involved in the prosecution of sexual offences, whether it be the prosecutors, detectives or social workers, experience similar emotions. Obviously, the victims of sexual offences also have to experience the secondary trauma of having to give evidence, in addition to the trauma of the sexual offence itself.
How do you propose to encourage magistrates - obviously respecting the principle of the separation of powers - to serve in such courts, because, as we know, the rate of conviction is much higher? Thank you, Speaker.