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Source: ONE News -
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An Australian child protection group says a girl who revealed on radio she was raped should be praised for breaking "the silence on child sexual assault".
The 14-year-old girl was strapped to a lie detector during 2Day FM's Kyle and Jackie O breakfast show on Wednesday because her mother was concerned about her behaviour.
When her mother asked if she was sexually active the girl replied: "I've already told you the story about this ... and don't look at me and smile because it's not funny."
Raising her voice she then said: "Oh, okay, I got raped when I was 12 years old."
Host Kyle Sandilands responded by saying: "Right, is that the only experience you've had?" before the interview was brought to an end.
The segment has set off a storm of criticism in Australia, while New South Wales Police and the state's Department of Community Services (DoCs) are investigating the sexual assault claim.
However, child protection advocacy agency Braveheart has praised the girl for telling the truth.
"Sexual assault is disempowering, but this little Braveheart reached into her 'self' and found potentially, the last shred of 'self' power she possessed, and told everyone the truth," founder Hetty Johnston says.
"There are so many issues around this but the bottom line is that this 14-year-old stunned the nation with the truth," Johnston adds.
The Association of Children's Welfare Agencies has called the on-air incident "irresponsible media", a view shared by NSW Community Services Minister Linda Burney.
She says her office has been inundated with calls over the interview and DoCs had now met with the girl and her family.
"Let's hope this is a sober lesson to that particular radio station and other such radio stations that think stunts like this are acceptable," she told reporters.
