The majority of responses were from female victims and many were minors at the time of the alleged incidents.<\/p>\n
“At least twice, he placed his hand on my upper inner thigh so high that his thumb rested on my outer labia,” one said.Shocking allegations of sexual assault over six decades<\/a><\/p>\n An ABC investigation has uncovered hundreds of allegations of sexual harassment and assault at the hands of driving instructors. Warning: graphic content detailing alleged sexual assault.<\/p>\n “He would say very inappropriate things about young women being sexy and leading men on in short school dresses, I was always in my school uniform,” said another respondent.<\/p>\n Crossbench MPs and senators are now calling on the Albanese government and Transport Minister Catherine King to work with state and territory counterparts to address the issue nationally.<\/p>\n Ms King had earlier told 7.30 that driving instructor misconduct was a matter for each state, declining the program’s interview request.<\/p>\n Greens leader Larissa Waters told 7.30 on Wednesday that a national response is urgently needed to address what is “clearly a national issue”.<\/p>\n Greens leader Larissa Waters said she found the lack of response from Ms King troubling. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)<\/p>\n “I was very disappointed to hear that the minister tried to say this was not her problem, nothing to do with her, this is a problem for the state,” Senator Waters said.<\/p>\n Senator Waters said she would be writing to the minister to ask the federal government to coordinate a plan with the states and territories.<\/p>\n “There’s no move from any of the states to tackle this other than some initial moves by South Australia \u2026 it is appalling and we need some national leadership shown on this issue.”<\/p>\n Independent Senator David Pocock agreed that a nationally coordinated response needs to be a priority.<\/p>\n Independent Senator David Pocock wants a national response. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)<\/p>\n “I think it’s an appalling breach of trust to be doing that to young people who are there to learn how to drive and you’re in that position,” Senator Pocock said.<\/p>\n McCarthy defends King<\/p>\n Many victims told the ABC they struggled to navigate convoluted reporting systems, which differ from state to state.<\/p>\n There is no national oversight body tracking complaints against instructors and currently no state or territory requires instructors to have dash cams filming inside their cars.<\/p>\n South Australia is the only jurisdiction with plans to introduce cameras and GPS in all training vehicles from 2027.<\/p>\n In the United Kingdom, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency licences driving instructors nationally and tracks complaints about instructor conduct.<\/p>\n When asked about the government’s response in Senate Question Time, cabinet minister Malarndirri McCarthy \u2014 representing Ms King \u2014 said she is confident that the minister is “having a good look at what’s going on here”.<\/p>\n Senator Malarndirri McCarthy defended Transport Minister Catherine King. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)<\/p>\n “I’d like to just commend their bravery in coming forward to speak about a really, really difficult issue but a very important one,” Senator McCarthy said.<\/p>\n “Driving instructors \u2026 just like teachers and those in a position of responsibility in our society have to ensure these environments are safe.”<\/p>\n Senator McCarthy said the responsibility lies with each jurisdiction which sets their own rules.<\/p>\n “These regulators actually have the power to investigate the complaints, suspend or cancel accreditation or impose conditions on an instructor’s license,” Senator McCarthy said.<\/p>\n Dash cams a potential solution<\/p>\n Independent Senator Fatima Payman called for mandatory dash cams, a national registry of instructors and for the government to ensure this was on the agenda at the next National Cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n Senator Payman – who pressed the government in Senate Question Time on Wednesday – said the issue of “trainer danger” stretched back decades.\u00a0<\/p>\n “My mother has been engaged in this industry for years, providing a safe teaching environment for people learning to drive in Western Australia and I know how important it is that families can trust instructors,” Senator Payman said.Sexual assault\u00a0support lines:<\/p>\n The Australian Driver Trainers Association (ADTA), one of the peak bodies representing 1,200 instructors, also backed the use of dash cams.<\/p>\n “ADTA is appalled for those who have experienced these issues and concerns,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n “Dash cams in driver training have a dual function in our view.<\/p>\n “We actively support outwardly facing camera technology that supports vehicle safety, road safety and driver instruction.<\/p>\n “We also support inwardly facing camera technologies for instructor safety, student safety and driver instruction.”<\/p>\n Legal experts told the ABC that sexual assault cases like these are often difficult to prove in court due to a lack of evidence, because it often comes down to a learner’s word against their instructor’s.<\/p>\n While cameras recording inside taxis have been mandated in most states and territories, that’s not the case for driving instructor vehicles.<\/p>\n Barrister Mollie McKendrick said dash cams recording inside the car would be a useful deterrent and help collect evidence if needed.<\/p>\n Barrister Mollie McKendrick would like to see dach cams mandated. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)<\/p>\n “The concept of having mandated dash cams would assist substantially in a prosecution of offence, because you’re not only seeing what’s occurring in the act itself, but you’re seeing the background, the context, the behaviour,” Ms McKendrick said.<\/p>\n Learners told the ABC they wanted to see the federal government coordinate a national response to protect future students.<\/p>\n State, territory and federal transport ministers will have their final meeting for 2025 in the coming months.<\/p>\n Watch 7.30<\/a>, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview<\/a> and ABC TV<\/p>\n Contact 7.30<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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