Page 2284 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 5 August 2015
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front-line services but we need to make sure that we are nipping this in the bud, that we have got the systems in place that can provide some sense of prevention of domestic violence. This initiative would help in that space.
We have other jurisdictions that are doing something similar, who have instigated and already adopted these practices. In South Australia it goes further; they are hearing protection order applications. In Victoria, the family violence magistrate can also deal with related bail applications, family law parenting orders and victim compensation, and in some cases can order offenders into behavioural programs. I know that the Attorney-General is aware of these issues and these calls. I know that all of us are. We have been in communication with people who are in related portfolios with people on the front line, so there is an understanding that this needs to happen.
I plead with the government to support my motion today, to say, “Enough is enough when it comes to domestic violence. We are going to take action. We are not going to drag our heels when it comes to this.” The court can adapt. The court can do this. If there are additional resources required, so be it, but if this is not going to be a priority for us, after everything that we have said—if this is not going to be a priority for this Assembly after everything that we have said—I would be disappointed. And ultimately we would be letting down the victims of crime, the victims of domestic violence, the people on the front line who are combating this and who expect leadership, expect us in this place to take action. That is what they are calling for. Let us hear those calls. I again plead with the government to support this motion and establish a full-time domestic violence court in the ACT.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Capital Metro) (10.16), by leave: I move the amendments circulated in my name together:
(1) Insert new paragraph (1)(e):
“(e) the ACT’s Family Violence Intervention Program provides a coordinated justice and community response to criminal family violence, effectively establishing relationships between agencies and ensuring they work together cooperatively; and”.
(2) Omit paragraph (2), substitute:
“(2) calls on the ACT Government to give consideration to the extension of the Family Violence Court to include civil domestic violence orders, as well as consideration to a full-time dedicated magistrate to domestic and family violence matters, as part of its broader legislative reform program, and report back to the Assembly.”.
I thank Mr Hanson for moving this motion today. The government welcomes ongoing discussion on the way we respond to domestic and family violence, including sexual assault, in the ACT. The motion presents an opportunity to further reflect on the efforts we are making as a community to address domestic and family violence.
Preventing family violence is and continues to be a high priority for the government. For our responses to achieve the aspirations of the national ACT and national
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