Townsville community meets to tackle domestic violence against people with disability

Government and community leaders will meet today to discuss ways the Townsville community can help tackle domestic and family violence in the disability sector.

Disability Services Minister and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke will host the roundtable session, which is one of several being held across Queensland to discuss local responses to domestic and family violence.

“Sadly, domestic and family violence can reach all corners of the community, and people with disability are some of our most vulnerable Queenslanders,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“There is already a lot of work being done at a local level by community organisations and service providers here in Townsville to help tackle domestic and family violence,” she said.

“There are particular issues for people with a disability in relation to domestic and family violence and we need to make sure that we have the support in place to help prevent violence and protect those who have experienced it.

“This roundtable gives us the chance to bring together community leaders from the disability sector to discuss how we can work together on local solutions to eliminate this problem.

“Community support is vital, because only through action from the whole community can we hope to eliminate this terrible problem.”

Minister O’Rourke said the roundtable followed an announcement this week that the Palaszczuk Government would spend $31.3 million over four years on a range of initiatives to tackle domestic and family violence.

“We have announced $8 million over two years to establish crisis shelters in Townsville and Brisbane, and a further $11.9 million over four years to operate the shelters,” she said.

“In addition, we are trialling a specialist Magistrates Court, expanding legal services for victims, and enhancing current death review processes so we can prevent tragic deaths as a result of domestic violence.

“These measures form part of the Government’s response to the report by the Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence, chaired by Dame Quentin Bryce.

“The need for the whole community to work together against domestic and family violence is one of the central themes of the landmark report, and these roundtables are doing that.”

The State Government will soon release the full response to the ‘Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland’ report’s 140 recommendations, which will underpin the development of a Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy to prevent violence.

Media Contact: Minister O’Rourke’s office 0408 317 992