Moves to axe character references after Western Power rape case

The Western Australian government is facing mounting pressure to prohibit the use of positive character references in legal proceedings following a controversy involving Western Power. Three employees at the state-owned utility were stood down after providing character references for a former colleague who was subsequently convicted of rape.

Critics are calling for legislative reform to prevent such evidence from being submitted in cases involving sexual violence. The incident has sparked a broader debate regarding the appropriateness of professional colleagues providing character testimonials for individuals accused of serious criminal offenses.