Page 1925 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 16 June 1993
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One major finding of the research was that all interviewees expressed support for the domestic violence legislation. The researchers also noted that the existence of the Domestic Violence Crisis Service is an essential ingredient of the ACT system as it performs support and advisory functions which relieve both the police and the courts of a considerable workload. There were also a number of areas that the researchers recommended that the Community Law Reform Committee consider. The researchers said that possibly the largest problem they had noticed in the course of the research was the need to improve communication between agencies. They also recommended that there be an integrated criminal justice information system and that police and court records be regularly monitored. The researchers recommended that the police adopt an explicit pro-arrest policy for domestic violence assaults and breaches of orders.
The Community Law Reform Committee will be considering the findings of this report, along with all the submissions it has received, in making its recommendations about the ACT's domestic violence laws. This report will give the committee a sound empirical basis for making its recommendations. The research assesses how the existing measures to assist domestic violence survivors are working, so that the community can identify where improvements can be made. I believe that this research is important for the ACT and that it demonstrates the Government's ongoing commitment to domestic violence issues.
Debate (on motion by Mrs Carnell) adjourned.
DOMESTIC RELATIONSHIPS LEGISLATION
Discussion Paper
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (3.34): Madam Speaker, for the information of members, I present a discussion paper entitled "A Proposal for Domestic Relationship Legislation in the ACT" which includes an exposure draft of domestic relationships legislation. I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
Madam Speaker, this discussion paper, "A Proposal for Domestic Relationship Legislation in the ACT", outlines historic proposals for change in the law for those who live in domestic relationships. For many years there have been calls for the ACT to introduce laws which deal with de facto relationships. On 7 April 1992 the Government announced in the Legislative Assembly its intention to introduce de facto relationship legislation to provide greater protection to partners and children of de facto relationships. This proposal puts into place such legislation. However, it goes further than that; it provides also for those living in other types of domestic relationships such as extended families.
Most people, if asked, would probably consider that anything from 20 to 40 per cent of ACT families are based on de facto marriages. They would be wrong. Research carried out as part of the preparation of legislation has shown this to be a myth. There is in fact a much smaller number of de facto relationships in the ACT - in the vicinity of 7 per cent. However, research carried out by my department identified a significant number of households where there are adults living together in non-marital, non-de facto relationships. When considered in conjunction with de facto relationships, these relationships could include as many as one in every four ACT households.
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