Report highlights on Queensland Domestic and Family Violence reforms

The vast majority of recommendations stemming from the landmark Not Now, Not Ever report have been implemented. 

Domestic and Family Violence Implementation Council chair Dame Quentin Bryce handed the first six-month progress report of the council to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last week.

It was tabled in Queensland Parliament today.

The report showed that in the six months from December to May, significant progress had been made in implementing the report’s 121 recommendations to government.

Work had started on 77 recommendations and 32 had been achieved, with the remaining 12 scheduled for the future action plan. 

Since the report was written, five more recommendations have been completed and legislation was also introduced to Queensland Parliament last sitting week to make issuing DVOs simpler for police, ensure cross-agency collaboration and to ensure safety of victims of domestic violence including children.

“The determination by the community to put an end to domestic and family violence has never been stronger and this is translating into actions with long-term significance,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Queenslanders realise we are the beginning of a long journey but we can all be proud of the significant achievements to date.

“It’s imperative we keep this momentum going so we can achieve the true cultural change that will break the cycle of domestic and family violence.

“Domestic and family violence is not acceptable in Queensland society and out communities enough is enough.

“We are putting legislative changes in place as well as the necessary support service to help victims and their families and also to help stop perpetrators from committing acts of domestic violence.

“I thank the Implementation Council and Chair Quentin Bryce for their valuable work in this area.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman thanked the Special Taskforce for its ongoing commitment to tackle domestic and family violence in Queensland.

“We have all been shocked and deeply saddened by the number of devastating deaths caused by domestic violence already seen this past year,” Ms Fentiman said.

“Tackling this terrible violence is one of our Government’s highest priorities.

“Our response to the landmark Not Now, Not Ever report is the most comprehensive plan to eliminate domestic and family violence this state has ever seen.

“I look forward to continuing work with the Premier and my Cabinet colleagues as we implement all 121 recommendations from the report targeted at the Government and ensure Queensland is a safer place for women and children.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the government had committed a record $198.2 million over five years in this year’s Budget to continue to implement the response to Not Now, Not Ever.

The report lists key achievements during the implementation council’s first six months, including:

• Release of the 10-Year Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy
• Opening of 72-hour crisis shelters in Brisbane and Townsville, which have helped more than 1000 victims escape violence. Since the six-month report, a further $8.7 million has been allocated for regional shelters in Charters Towers and Roma.
• The trial of a specialist domestic and family violence court at Southport. To build on the trial, the 2016-17 Budget included $42.4 million over four years to roll out more specialist courts.
• A suite of laws including amendments to the Penalties and Sentences Act to make domestic violence an aggravating factor and laws to make non-fatal strangulation a separate offence
• Development of the Respectful Relationships education program for all Queensland schools to counter attitudes and behaviours that underpin violence later in life.
• This month, further laws were introduced to Parliament to give police powers to act more quickly to protect victims and increase the length of Domestic Violence Orders.

Go to www.qld.gov.au/enddomesticandfamilyviolence for more information. 

Media contact: 3719 7000