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BRISBANE, Australia — Steven Fisher was prohibited by law from identifying himself as a survivor of sexual abuse, even after the conviction of his assailant, an Anglican priest.

Saxon Mullins wanted to speak out, too, after she reported being raped in a Sydney alley, but prosecutors told her to keep quiet despite intense media attention to her case.

“I was watching this all go by, saying, ‘That’s my life,’” she said. “It’s not just some girl. I’m real.”

Australia, a nation that prides itself on blunt talk and a “fair go” for all, often can’t seem to manage either when it comes to prosecuting the most sensitive crimes. The country shrouds law enforcement and the courts in unusual secrecy, particularly in cases of sexual and family violence. That limits public scrutiny and, critics say, tilts the scales of justice against the victims.