Page 2283 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 5 August 2015
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Mr Rinaudo said:
… it would give magistrates a heightened level of awareness of the issues relating to domestic violence, so they would be up-to-date and consistent with decisions across the state.
They are doing it in Queensland, Madam Speaker. Part of what we have all agreed in this place is that we want to be at the forefront. The ACT has the ability, because of our size and the will that we have in this place and across our community, to be at the forefront. If they can do these things in Queensland, if they can do them in other jurisdictions, why can we not do them here?
The Families ACT executive officer, Will Mollison, said that often victims did not get the support they needed when a matter reached the legal system, with measures like restraining orders sometimes escalating violence. I quote:
“If you view domestic violence through the lens of a control issue sometimes that can cause it to escalate,” he said.
“In extreme cases we see the tragic consequences where women are killed when they try to protect themselves.”
Mr Mollison said one suggestion was to follow US experiments with “‘victim-centred’ domestic violence courts which could become the first step of a recovery for victims”. I quote again:
“When we’re talking about court we’re addressing the offender and the offence, it’s all about the men which is not necessarily in the best interests of the woman,” he said.
Madam Speaker, the point I am making today is that there is a shared view in this place and across the community that action needs to be taken when tackling domestic violence.
There has been a lot of conversation. I commend that, and that conversation should continue to occur. I commend members in this place across the political divide who have all taken steps. They have all shown a willingness and determination to tackle this issue. Indeed, I commend the government for many of the initiatives that it has taken in this regard. I say well done to them.
But what we are hearing from those on the front line who are focused on protecting victims is that they want this to occur. People who are dealing with the victims on a day-to-day basis––the women’s legal centre, the Victims of Crime Commissioner and others—are saying, “The time has come; let us take action.” They want to see the action.
Importantly as well, this is the sort of initiative that does not necessarily just put increased demand on all of the stretched services. Something that came out from the roundtable we had was that certainly there is a need for additional resourcing for the
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video