Sexual assault statistics
The ABS defines sexual assault as a physical assault of a sexual nature, directed toward another person where that person:
- does not give consent
- gives consent as a result of intimidation or fraud
- is legally deemed incapable of giving consent because of youth or temporary/permanent incapacity.
Sexual assault includes: rape, sexual assault, sodomy, buggery, oral sex, incest, carnal knowledge, unlawful sexual intercourse, indecent assault, and assault with intent to rape.
Sexual assault data for 2006 have been aggregated using ABS data from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia and included in charts regarding details of location, and gender and age of victim. These states represent 95% of all sexual assaults recorded in 2006.
Trend in sexual assault
Sexual assault victims, by month, 1995-2006
Source: Extracted from Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded crime data
- Reported sexual assaults have increased by an average of 4% each year since 1995.
- The number of recorded sexual assaults is typically highest during the months of January to March and August to November and lowest during April to July.