The Northern Territory is set to be the only place in Australia where sexual assault survivors aren't legally allowed to share their own stories and journalists can face time behind bars if they name victims — even with written consent.

Key points: In both the NT and Tasmania, it is a crime to name sexual assault victims, even with their consent, or for victims to identify themselves as a victim

In both the NT and Tasmania, it is a crime to name sexual assault victims, even with their consent, or for victims to identify themselves as a victim Tasmania has committed to changing its laws to allow survivors to speak and will likely vote on the move in early 2020

Tasmania has committed to changing its laws to allow survivors to speak and will likely vote on the move in early 2020 Survivors say sharing their own stories can be empowering and can help educate others and challenge the stigma around having been assaulted

Nina Funnell, creator of the #LetHerSpeak campaign, said Territorians were being "gagged" by legislation which prevented them from talking about their own experiences.

"If a journalist was to name them, they'd face six months jail — which is an outrageous situation, not just for journalists but for the survivors themselves because it denies them agency and voice in telling their own stories," she said.

On Sunday, Tasmania Attorney-General Elise Archer committed to amending section 194K of its Evidence Act 2001, which would allow victims of sexual assault the right to speak out publicly if they chose to.

The move means the NT will soon be the only Australian jurisdiction which doesn't allow survivors to self-identify without a court order.

Ms Funnell said for people impacted by sexual assault, the crime stripped them of power and control.

"To also learn that you are prohibited from telling your own story on your own terms only exacerbates those feelings of helplessness and then in turn can exacerbate trauma or lead to re-traumatisation," she said.

"When you have jurisdictions that gag all survivors en masse, it severely limits and restricts the role that survivors can play in participating with community discussions about the causes and consequences of sexual violence."

Grace Tame and Nina Funnell outside Tasmania's parliament. ( ABC News: Jack Fisher )

The NT has Australia's highest rate of sexual assault

Ms Funnell said she knows of two sexual assault survivors in the Territory who want to be share their stories publicly.

"(Survivors) don't want to talk for vengeance reasons — overwhelmingly they want to tell their stories because they want it to be a positive and productive way of educating others," Ms Funnell said.

One Territory survivor who joined the #LetHerSpeak campaign has written to NT Attorney-General Natasha Fyles to explain their reasons for wanting to come forward.

"It's important for victims of sexual assault to tell their own story after an assault because it can help with the healing process," the survivor wrote.

"The ability to make that choice gives a little power back to someone who has had so much power taken from them. By gagging victims against their will, the law is robbing them of their own unique voice.

"For change to happen, more victims need to be heard."

Survivors of sexual assault are encouraged to report the crime to the NT Police. ( ABC News: James Dunlevie )

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows the NT has the highest rate of sexual assaults in the nation.

In 2018, there were 145.6 reports of sexual assault to the NT Police per 100,000 people — higher than every other state and territory.

Last year, Australia-wide, there were 105.3 reports of sexual assault to police per 100,000 people.

Nina Funnell on why she chose to speak out

Ms Funnell was 23 and walking home from university in Sydney when she was abducted by a man with a boxcutter blade just a few hundred meters from her front door.

She was dragged to a nearby park and told she was going to be killed.

Nina Funnell launched a photo campaign to end rape on campus. ( Supplied )

"I was then repeatedly bashed and strangled and indecently sexually assaulted," Ms Funnell said.

"I managed to eventually fight and subsequently survived."

Five weeks after the assault, Ms Funnell came out publicly in the hope of finding her attacker, but he was never found.

She has no regrets about coming forward.

"I know firsthand the really important benefits and opportunities that can flow from having that dignity and voice restored to you," Ms Funnell said.

"If what happened to me didn't happen to me on a street in Sydney, but happened to me on a street in Darwin or Alice Springs, or in Hobart — my whole life would be different."

Ms Funnell said survivors spoke out to raise awareness about the impact of sexual assault and victim blaming, to advocate for others, to challenge the stigma around sexual assault, to raise awareness about the challenges survivors faced navigating the criminal justice system or to educate journalists and the media.

The NT Government looks towards legislative change

NT Attorney-General Natasha Fyles has been in conversations with advocates over proposed changes. ( ABC News: Mitchell Woolnough )

Before the end of the year, NT Government representatives, Ms Funnell and a number of local advocates will meet to discuss proposed changes to the NT legislation.

Ms Funnell praised the NT Government's efforts and although talks were ongoing, she said it was important to take the time to get the legislation right the first time.

NT Attorney-General Natasha Fyles said the NT's laws were in place to provide privacy for the victim.

"We are also looking at the NT's current provisions and working towards legislative change," she said.

"We understand there is often a stigma attached to a sexual assault complaint and the current provisions shield complainants from that and provide privacy.

"On the other hand we can appreciate that there may be victims who want to tell their stories and therefore waive the prohibition on publication."