The recent article (‘Ineffective’ system sees sexually abused children re-traumatised) has shone a light on a persistent issue in the criminal justice system: how children give evidence.
It is now well accepted in our legal system that the evidence of children is not inherently less reliable than the evidence of adults. Indeed a case I recently took to the High Court, The Queen v GW, was an important development in that area. The High Court held that unsworn evidence (which generally means evidence given by children) is not any less reliable than sworn evidence.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/calls-for-child-victims-of-sexual-offences-to-have-intermediaries-20180503-p4zd4j.html
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/calls-for-child-victims-of-sexual-offences-to-have-intermediaries-20180503-p4zd4j.html