Published Sunday, 26 October, 2008 at 06:30 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Women
The Honourable Margaret Keech
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Major statewide strategy to stop domestic violence
Communities Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr, Police Minister Judy Spence and Minister for Child Safety and Women Margaret Keech are driving the development of a new whole-of-government domestic and family violence prevention strategy which aims to fill gaps in services and improve the support available across the State.
A range of ideas are contained in a consultation paper which is available for comment from tomorrow, with community consultation open until Friday, December 19.
“Domestic and family violence knows no postcode, it’s in all communities – the disadvantaged, wealthy, urban and remote,” Minister Nelson-Carr said.
“It tears families apart and damages our children. Then there’s the economic cost which in Queensland has been estimated to be between $1.5-$2 billion dollars annually because of the physical and mental health cost, housing, loss of workplace productivity and court costs.
“The Bligh Government is committed to improving our community-wide approach to reducing domestic and family violence and we want to hear what Queenslanders have to say.
“Supporting families and breaking the cycle of violence will enable us to build on our foundations and create communities where all people feel safe and valued, and live free from domestic and family violence.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the consultation paper was being released to generate discussion, outlining five areas for action. These are: Prevention, with a focus on healthy relationships; Early identification; Connected support services; Perpetrator accountability, and; System planning and coordination.
“The consultation paper canvasses a range of ideas, including how to improve the use of existing oust provisions in legislation where a perpetrator of domestic or family violence can be removed from the home instead of women and children,” she said.
“Other initiatives we want feedback on include the idea of having a case coordination team at the regional level and improving the collection of data about the incidence and prevalence of domestic and family violence in Queensland.”
Minister Spence said initiatives aimed at earlier identification of domestic and family violence, improved support through the court system, and better training and professional development for those working on the frontline were also worthy of investigation.
“Domestic and family violence will not be solved by any one project or program in isolation but it is with a concerted, whole-of-government approach that we will have a better chance than ever before of helping victims and engaging perpetrators to change their violent behaviour,” Ms Spence said.
Along with listening to Queenslanders and service providers, the Bligh Government will continue to explore opportunities to partner with the Australian Government to strengthen supports and services.
Minister for Child Safety and Women Margaret Keech said the strategy would have a strong focus on children and young people.
“Because of the additional vulnerability of young children experiencing violence early in life, the strategy must have a strong focus on protecting children," Mrs Keech said.
“Changing community attitudes and individual’s behaviour often takes time, which is why we want to develop a concerted and coordinated approach that will tackle the issue of domestic and family violence from all fronts.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said there were many services and professional staff already working tirelessly to help families struggling with domestic and family violence.
“A lot of good work has already been done right across the State to address domestic and family violence, helping many Queenslanders get their lives back on track, free from violence,” she said.
“The new strategy will build on the best of existing programs and identify opportunities for new and better coordinated initiatives.
“I expect the increased focus this strategy will bring over the next five years, will go a long way towards stopping the cycle of domestic and family violence.”
Queenslanders have until Friday, December 19, to have their say, with the final strategy scheduled for release early in 2009. To download and comment on the consultation paper, please visit www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au or call 1800 081 934.
Note: Access Economics, 2004, ‘Cost of Domestic Violence to the Australian Economy’ reported the cost to the Australian economy to be $8.1 billion per annum.
Media Contact: Alexia Deegan 0400 767 490
A range of ideas are contained in a consultation paper which is available for comment from tomorrow, with community consultation open until Friday, December 19.
“Domestic and family violence knows no postcode, it’s in all communities – the disadvantaged, wealthy, urban and remote,” Minister Nelson-Carr said.
“It tears families apart and damages our children. Then there’s the economic cost which in Queensland has been estimated to be between $1.5-$2 billion dollars annually because of the physical and mental health cost, housing, loss of workplace productivity and court costs.
“The Bligh Government is committed to improving our community-wide approach to reducing domestic and family violence and we want to hear what Queenslanders have to say.
“Supporting families and breaking the cycle of violence will enable us to build on our foundations and create communities where all people feel safe and valued, and live free from domestic and family violence.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the consultation paper was being released to generate discussion, outlining five areas for action. These are: Prevention, with a focus on healthy relationships; Early identification; Connected support services; Perpetrator accountability, and; System planning and coordination.
“The consultation paper canvasses a range of ideas, including how to improve the use of existing oust provisions in legislation where a perpetrator of domestic or family violence can be removed from the home instead of women and children,” she said.
“Other initiatives we want feedback on include the idea of having a case coordination team at the regional level and improving the collection of data about the incidence and prevalence of domestic and family violence in Queensland.”
Minister Spence said initiatives aimed at earlier identification of domestic and family violence, improved support through the court system, and better training and professional development for those working on the frontline were also worthy of investigation.
“Domestic and family violence will not be solved by any one project or program in isolation but it is with a concerted, whole-of-government approach that we will have a better chance than ever before of helping victims and engaging perpetrators to change their violent behaviour,” Ms Spence said.
Along with listening to Queenslanders and service providers, the Bligh Government will continue to explore opportunities to partner with the Australian Government to strengthen supports and services.
Minister for Child Safety and Women Margaret Keech said the strategy would have a strong focus on children and young people.
“Because of the additional vulnerability of young children experiencing violence early in life, the strategy must have a strong focus on protecting children," Mrs Keech said.
“Changing community attitudes and individual’s behaviour often takes time, which is why we want to develop a concerted and coordinated approach that will tackle the issue of domestic and family violence from all fronts.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said there were many services and professional staff already working tirelessly to help families struggling with domestic and family violence.
“A lot of good work has already been done right across the State to address domestic and family violence, helping many Queenslanders get their lives back on track, free from violence,” she said.
“The new strategy will build on the best of existing programs and identify opportunities for new and better coordinated initiatives.
“I expect the increased focus this strategy will bring over the next five years, will go a long way towards stopping the cycle of domestic and family violence.”
Queenslanders have until Friday, December 19, to have their say, with the final strategy scheduled for release early in 2009. To download and comment on the consultation paper, please visit www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au or call 1800 081 934.
Note: Access Economics, 2004, ‘Cost of Domestic Violence to the Australian Economy’ reported the cost to the Australian economy to be $8.1 billion per annum.
Media Contact: Alexia Deegan 0400 767 490