Domestic violence taskforce to consult Queenslanders

Queensland’s new Domestic Violence Taskforce headed up by Dame Quentin Bryce has been given five months to work out how to stop the escalating rates of domestic violence in the state.

Taskforce Chair, Dame Quentin Bryce said she had found her preliminary listening tour around Queensland invaluable in gaining early insights into the issues and challenges of domestic violence.

“Many people shared their experiences and ideas with me.  I have seen and heard first-hand a great deal about the horrific and traumatic violence that destroys the lives of so many women and their families,” Ms Bryce said.

“I am inspired by the professionalism and dedication of people who work in this demanding field. I welcome my fellow Taskforce members.

“I know that their diverse backgrounds, experience, skills and commitment will help us find more effective ways of dealing with this insidious problem.”

The eight-person taskforce is comprised of community representatives Heather Nancarrow, Anne Cross and Ada Woolla, LNP members Kerry Millard and Ian Kaye, Independent Liz Cunningham and Labor’s Desley Scott.

Premier Campbell Newman today released the terms of reference to ensure victims, frontline welfare workers, advocates and community leaders around Queensland could have their voice heard by the panel.

“We promised to make Queensland the safest place to live, work and raise a family and this Taskforce is part our strong plan to achieve this,” Mr Newman said.

“This bi-partisan taskforce will conduct state-wide consultation over the next two months to examine an issue that continues to get worse and which has a devastating human, social and economic cost to Queensland families.”

A Domestic and Family Violence survey, conducted for the Taskforce, found most people agreed that communities too often ignored or turned a blind eye to domestic and family violence.

The Taskforce will hold two summits – one in Brisbane and the other in regional Queensland - and will provide a final report to the Premier by 28 February, 2015.

NOTE: Overlay is available of Dame Quentin Bryce meeting with community leaders and domestic violence responders filmed recently in North Queensland via this Dropbox link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yv08pnrrqfxympf/AACz46G-2XrH9_0qtFIubO7La?dl=0

[ENDS] 10 September 2014

Media Contact for Premier: Mitch Grayson 3719 7000

*see below for information about taskforce members and the terms of reference

Premiers Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence - Members

• The Honourable Quentin Bryce AD CVO (Chair) –Ms Bryce was the 25th Governor-General of Australia, holding office from September 2008 until March 2014. She was the first woman to hold the position, and was previously the Governor of Queensland from 2003 to 2008
• Ms Heather Nancarrow, CEO Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety – has 30 years experience working on the prevention of violence against women. She was also the foundation director of the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
• Ms Anne Cross, CEO Uniting Care Australia – has been in this position since 2003 which provides welfare services across Queensland including services for women, children and elders who experience domestic and family violence
• Ms Ada Woolla, Aurukun Local Commissioner, Family Responsibilities Commission – has worked alongside the Dept of Communities, Child Safety and disability Services to assist families and children in Aurukun
• Ms Kerry Millard MP, Member for Sandgate
• Mr Ian Kaye MP, Member for Greenslopes
• Mrs Liz Cunningham MP, Member for Gladstone
• Mrs Desley Scott MP, Member for Woodridge
  
  

Terms of Reference

In making its recommendations, the Premier’s Special Taskforce is to have regard to, but is not limited by:

1. Educating and engaging Queenslanders to create a community that supports respectful relationships, practices positive attitudes and behaviours and promotes a culture of non-violence
2. Early intervention to identify those who are at greatest risk of violence, to ensure action is taken to protect those at risk of being subject to domestic and family violence and to change the behaviour of those who use violence;
3. Holistic, coordinated and timely responses to domestic violence, including building community confidence in the reporting and investigation of domestic and family violence and ensuring that those who are subject to domestic and family violence receive immediate and effective protection and support;
4. Ensuring that Queensland’s law and order responses, including police, prosecutors and courts, provide an effective response to domestic and family violence, to deter perpetrators from committing violence, and hold them accountable for their behaviour;
5. Considering ways in which strategies for ensuring protection from domestic and family violence in Queensland best complement relevant systems and processes (including those in the family law jurisdiction) to provide just outcomes and maximise the safety of families; and
6. Defining the scope of violence, assault and abuse to be addressed in a domestic and family violence strategy and whether it would be appropriate for such a strategy to focus on particular or defined sections of the community in order to have the most impact.