By Emily-Rose Toohey
Last week, an overhaul of laws and practices to better protect Queensland women from domestic and family violence and hold perpetrators to account was announced.
The $363 million package of reforms includes new laws and programs to recognise, prevent, and punish coercive control.
“This includes a Commission of Inquiry into police practices, expansion of the Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) courts, better support for women, a special strategy for First Nations communities, and funding for perpetrator programs to change men’s behaviour and stop the cycle of violence,” the reforms outlined.
“Furthermore, this includes ensuring victims receive a joint response from police and DFV services, and respectful relationships education to all Queensland children and young people are increased.”
Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) Cr Jo McNally addressed these reforms during last week’s council meeting.
“I would like us, as a council, to write a letter of congratulations to both the Premier and the Attorney-General on this stance,” Cr McNally said.
“It’s the start of something big and hopefully a much safer community for everyone.”
The reforms are the result of Justice Margaret McMurdo’s Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce’s December 2021 report.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Taskforce received more than 700 submissions from women and girls with lived experience of domestic and family violence.
“In addition, women have literally taken to the streets to say ‘enough is enough’,” she said.
Before the end of 2023, a bill will be introduced to criminalise coercive control – the most common factor leading up to intimate partner homicide.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women, and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said this was one of the Taskforce’s key recommendations.
“Our systems need to respond better to this form of violence,” the Attorney said.
She said that although police save the lives of women and children escaping domestic and family violence, the Taskforce outlined that many survivors had not received an adequate response.
“A key focus of the reforms will be to build understanding of DFV and coercive control across the agency to help police improve how they respond to these matters,” she said.
At the SDRC council meeting, Cr Stephen Tancred suggested also sending a letter to the Police Minister Hon Mark Ryan.
“A lot of the reforms are centred around police responses,” Cr Tancred said.
SDRC Mayor Vic Pennisi said he was happy to draft the letters to be signed by all councillors, and the motion was hence moved.
In relation to the reforms, the Taskforce has made 89 recommendations and the final report is due by the end of June.
