Sexual assault victims in Victoria will be given greater powers to prevent defence lawyers accessing their medical records in an attempt to undermine their credibility in court.

Back in 2016 and again last year, the Victorian Law Reform Commission warned that confidential patient records were being obtained via a subpoena without the alleged victim’s knowledge.

In other cases, the alleged victims were told by the police, but they did not realise they could then legally contest the application.

The Victorian Government has pledged to close the legal loophole following a campaign by state MP Stuart Grimley.