Shocking new statistics have revealed sexual assaults are on the rise for the 10th year in a row in Australia, with Queensland recording the biggest increase.
According to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of police recorded victims of sexual assault grew by 13% nationwide in 2021.
The 2021 figures are the largest numbers recorded by police in the 29 years of ABS crime data, with increases across seven states and territories.
Queensland recorded the highest jump in the country, up 1,771 victims or a staggering 35%.
ABS Head of Crime and Justice Statistics, William Milne, says there were 31,118 sexual assaults in total across Australia in 2021.
“The rate has risen from 83 to 121 victims per 100,000 people since 2011,” Mr Milne says.
“And that accounts for population changes.”
In 2021, there were 26,669 female victim-survivors and 4,350 male victim-survivors of sexual assault recorded by police. pic.twitter.com/zZQqjT4dni
— Australian Bureau of Statistics (@ABSStats) July 28, 2022
The figures also show there were six times more female victim-survivors of sexual assault (26,669) than male victim-survivors (4,350).
Shockingly, almost two-thirds (61%) of victim-survivors were under the age of 18 when the sexual assault occurred.
