Bridget Archer urges more funding for sexual assault services after heightened 'national attention' on issue

Launceston sexual assault support service Laurel House confirmed it had received an increase in demand from people seeking support after hearing details of alleged incidents involving federal Parliament.

In recent weeks, a historic rape allegation against Attorney-General Christian Porter have been made public, along with a separate allegation former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins was raped in Parliament House in 2019.

Ms Archer - who used her maiden speech to Parliament to mention her own experience of sexual assault - recently had a "brief conversation" with the prime minister about increased funding. She followed this up with a letter outlining her concerns about the need to meet growing demand for services.

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In the letter, Ms Archer said increased attention on these issues "may trigger memories and emotions from their own experiences".

"We must seek to listen to and understand the experiences of survivors. But it is my belief that we must ensure that adequate and appropriate support services are made available to all who require extra support as a result of the increased attention on these matters," she wrote.

"I know in Tasmania, and in my electorate of Bass, that there are many support organisations who provide the best support they can in often difficult circumstances. Many of these organisations are already seeing increased demand as a result of the national attention on these issues.

"I ask that you consider providing additional funding in some form to support organisations around Australia to ensure that, with the inevitable increase in demand, survivors of sexual assault are adequately supported during these difficult but necessary discussions."

Research shows that times of increased media coverage of sexual assault results in more people seeking support, or wishing to disclose their own past or present experiences.

Laurel House acting chief executive officer Frances Pratt said the past few weeks had seen more people contact the service for support.

"We have definitely had members of the public reach out to us with the specific details in relation to media reports, and how that's been impacting on them at this time," she said.

"These peak situations do cause a stress to resources."

Laurel House was hoping for improved long-term planning and a strategic response to ensure services were always there when Tasmanians needed them.

"The decision to disclose and seek support is a big one, it's one we don't take lightly for survivors," Ms Pratt said.

"So when there's an influx in service need, there needs to be adequate resources to respond to that."