PETER CAVE: Calls for equal rights for disabled children in South Australia are building with protests on the steps of Parliament House this morning.
Early childhood teaching students joined with parents of disabled children to call for legislative reform and better protection for these vulnerable children.
A number of cases of alleged sexual abuse against disabled victims have been dropped in South Australia before going to court, because the children can't speak and were seen as unreliable witnesses.
Parents say this effectively denies them equal access to justice. Their calls have now gained the attention of Upper House MPs in the state who also spoke at the rally.
Nance Haxton reports.
STEPHANIE HUGHES: This obscenity will only stop if the good people of Australia speak out and demand justice and protection of these children. Remember the words of Edmund Burke: "all that is required for evil to prevail is that good people to do nothing". We need you all to speak out for those who cannot be heard.
NANCE HAXTON: Stephanie Hughes organised today's rally on the steps of South Australia's Parliament House. She was joined by more than 50 other early childhood university students.
She says they are outraged that a number of alleged cases of sexual assault against disabled children have not gone to trial this year, because the children cannot speak - and are seen as unreliable witnesses.
She and the other students are joining the growing calls for changes to the law.
STEPHANIE HUGHES: We're disgusted and incensed by the way that child abuse cases get handled in South Australia and that we don't believe the children get justice and I think children that are young and disabled need to have the same rights as other children as well and need to be listened to and need to be cross-examined in other ways that are suitable for them.
NANCE HAXTON: Natasha says her intellectually disabled son was sexually abused last year. His case was dropped because he can't speak - even though he can communicate in other ways.
We cannot use her real name for legal reasons.
She says she is greatly encouraged that students and members of the public are now joining their fight for equal rights for disabled children in court.
NATASHA: We're not going to back down. It's only going to make us stronger. They need to listen.
NANCE HAXTON: So it's time to look at preventative measures and changes to legislation? Is it both that you're after?
NATASHA: Look, I mean preventative is always a good matter but we're always on that but it is really the legislation that needs to be changed. The laws need to be changed to support these children.
The legal system has failed us, the DPP has failed us, the Education Department has failed us and they've put it in the too hard basket and taken out the soft option because it's too hard for my son to be a credible witness.
NANCE HAXTON: Sam Paior is the spokeswoman for Dignity for Disability.
She says it's been over a year since the parents first raised their concerns with Education Minister and soon to be premier Jay Weatherill, and not enough has been done.
SAM PAIOR: Accused people have get out jail free cards written all over them because hardly any of these cases ever go through court.
NANCE HAXTON: Their calls have now gained the attention of Upper House MPs.
Independent MP Ann Bressington told the rally that disabled children are being treated as second class citizens.
ANN BRESSINGTON: I have some good news that in the Parliament we will be debating a bill and it is a government bill so I'll give them credit for that, to change the evidentiary act so that if a child gives the information that they are being abused to a parent, that that parent is actually going to be able to testify on their behalf in court.
(Crowd cheering)
So that is a win for child protection and it's a win for our children.
NANCE HAXTON: Greens Upper House MP Tammy Franks is also outraged.
TAMMY FRANKS: Child protection rallies should not be happening in this day and age in 2011. I applaud you all here for being the voice of children and for being the voice of disability because there is very little voice in there, but we need the Government to take this seriously.
We have all the information, we don't need another inquiry. We know what is going on. We just know that children and those who are disabled are not actually getting justice.
NANCE HAXTON: Rally organiser Stephanie Hughes says she hopes today's rally keeps up pressure on the issue.
STEPHANIE HUGHES: Why can they not use that video evidence in court for these disabled children?
NANCE HAXTON: So you think courts need to become more flexible?
STEPHANIE HUGHES: They do, they need to become more flexible for these children.
PETER CAVE: Stephanie Hughes, Nance Haxton was our reporter there.
Early childhood university students joined with parents of disabled children on the steps of South Australia's Parliament House this morning calling for legislative change. They say the law is denying disabled children justice by dropping cases of alleged sexual abuse before they go to trial.