An exposure draft bill, released on Monday by Labor backbencher Marisa Paterson, has proposed to introduce a statutory definition of consent based on free and voluntary agreement.

But the proposed amendment bill is the third attempt in a matter of years to strengthen consent laws in the ACT.

Former Greens crossbencher Caroline Le Couteur attempted to put through a similar bill in 2018 but this was halted.

While Mr Rattenbury welcomed the bill he said he was frustrated that Ms Le Couteur's bill did not receive support from the Labor and Liberal parties at the time.

"The exposure draft released by Marisa Paterson regarding consent law reform, including a positive model of consent, is welcomed by the ACT Greens," he said.

"My colleague Caroline Le Couteur initiated this reform last term, presenting two bills during her time in the Assembly.

"The ACT Greens were frustrated that the other parties did not support the model of affirmative consent that was put forward at the time."

Mr Rattenbury, who is the territory's Attorney-General, said the Greens took the issue to the 2020 ACT election and that is how it ended up in the Labor-Greens power-sharing agreement.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr was asked on Monday why Labor did not support the changes in the last parliamentary term.

"I think that's pretty clear on the public record," he said.

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Ms Le Couteur's bill was referred to the justice and community safety committee, which recommended a number of changes were needed due to clear technical issues.

A controversial element of Ms Le Couteur's bill was that a perpetrator would have to prove they knew, or would have known, consent was freely given.

ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates said Dr Paterson's proposed amendments set clear community standards that consent has to be sought and given.

Ms Yates said it made it clear that consent in sought and can be withdrawn at any time, but she said any law reform needed to be accompanied by community education.

"Law reform such as this is an essential step that the ACT needs to take towards a law response to addressing sexual violence, however, community has told us there are many other parts of the system that require attention which cannot be fixed by law reform alone," she said.

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