Today we’re talking with Reuben Williams, whose journey through the justice system will open up one of the hardest but most necessary conversations we can have. Australia has been watching the case of Tom Silvagni for the past few months; a man from a high-profile sporting family who was found guilty by a jury of raping a woman. He has since filed an appeal.

That case has reignited debates about how sexual violence is handled, how suppression orders can protect perpetrators, and what survivors face when they speak out.

Reuben is unfortunately familiar with how the ‘system’ works, not just as a commentator, but as someone who went through the legal process himself.

We speak about what actually happens when someone reports sexual assault in Australia, why justice rarely feels just, and how power, fame, privilege and suppression orders can distort truth and accountability.

We also speak about:

• How and why Reuben advocated for himself and sought a level of justice
• Reuben’s court case and the process he went through
• His advocacy for survivors when people on the internet make comments like “they don’t look like a victim”
• The impact that coming forward has had on him
• Facing the perpetrator in person
• The tactics that defence attorneys use
• Removing 'good character' references

If this conversation does bring anything up for you, support is available at 1800 RESPECT 

You can find more from Reuben here 

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Hosted by Britt Hockley & Laura Byrne

Hosted by Britt Hockley & Keeshia Pettit 

Produced by Keeshia Pettit

Video Produced by Vanessa Beckford & Lachy Pugsley

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