Queensland Homicide Awareness Day

Families of victims and support agencies have joined together in King George Square to mark Homicide Awareness Day, which highlights the needs of those who have been left behind by terrible tragedies.

Police Minister Jack Dempsey and Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie both urged everyone across Queensland to mark the day by remembering the victims and those affected by homicide.

“The Queensland Homicide Victim’s Support Group Homicide Awareness Day was established to promote a unified voice for victim’s families and to raise awareness of the impact homicide has on all sectors of the community,” Mr Dempsey said. 

“The group has been operating for almost 20 years, providing invaluable support to those affected by homicide through a dedicated team of staff and volunteers.

“To have suffered such loss and yet continue to offer support to families who are in unimaginable pain shows great strength and courage and I would like to thank them for the work they do for the community.”

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said providing support and justice for victims and their families was a top priority for the Government.

“Homicide, or murder, sends devastating shockwaves through our community and we are keeping our election promise to Queenslanders that we would revitalise frontline services and rebalance the scales of justice back in favour of the victim, not the offender,” Mr Bleijie said. 

“We felt Queenslanders’ frustration over sentencing, which is why we increased the non-parole period for murder from 15 to 20 years. We also created a new offence for murdering a police officer, which carries a minimum non-parole period of 25 years.

“It is also vital that families of victims are supported and we have provided more than $1.5 million in funding to the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group over the past two years. 

“I would ask every Queenslander to mark today by donating to the Queensland Homicide Victim’s Support Group.” 

Donations can be made to the Queensland Homicide Victim’s Support Group at www.qhvsg.org.au

[ENDS] 1 May 2014           

Media Contact:           Minister Dempsey: Callum Stewart 0403 925 703

                                    Attorney General: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355