A sense of “entitlement” is to blame for the sexual assaults that occurred at this year’s Falls Festival in Marion Bay, says Women’s Legal Service Tasmania chief executive Susan Fahey.
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Police allege that all three incidents occurred over the course of two days.
One young girl was said to have been assaulted during Hot Dub Time Machine’s performance, between 10.45pm and 11.45pm on Thursday night.
Then, on Friday, a young girl was said to have been assaulted during Illy’s performance, just after 2pm.
It was also alleged that a woman was assaulted in the camping grounds, between 9.30pm and 11.30pm on Thursday night.
Ms Fahey said that the incidents weren’t the fault of the festival organisers.
“If [the perpetrators] don’t actually know that [sexual assault] is wrong and illegal, then that comes down to what society – and, potentially, their parents - are bringing them up to believe,” she said.
“You can have young women dancing in a moshpit, and some guy thinks that he can actually just grope them or sexually assault them.
“People should know that you don’t do that.”
Alina Thomas, executive officer of SHE, a domestic violence support group, said that festival organisers had a “responsibility” to acknowledge that such an environment could be “high-risk” for women.
“When there’s a bit of a party atmosphere, people who would behave more respectfully in other places might see that as an opportunity to be less respectful,” Ms Thomas said.
She also said that the alleged assaults could be attributed to the “culture” we live in.
“We’re all, I think, inculturated into the same society that has a tolerance of sexist behaviour and behaviour that intimidates women, objectifies women,” Ms Thomas said.
Detective Inspector Stephen Burk of Bellerive CIB said men had to be held accountable for sexual offences.
“Everyone has a responsibility to treat women in an appropriate way,” Detective Inspector Burk said.
“The culture needs to change – this behaviour just cannot be accepted.”
If you have any information about the alleged Falls Festival sexual assaults, call the Bellerive CIB on 131 444.
Police are particularly seeking footage of Hot Dub Time Machine’s performance on Thursday night, and Illy’s on Friday afternoon.
