Six-year plan tackles all forms of violence against women

The Palaszczuk Government has today launched a new violence prevention plan to help women and girls in Queensland live without fear, threats or experience of violence.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman launched key actions via the Queensland Violence Against Women Prevention Plan 2016 - 2022 at Parliament House.

“In Queensland the number of reported sexual assault victims rose for the fourth consecutive year to 4199 victims in 2015,” Ms Fentiman said.

“Shockingly, four in every five reported victims of sexual assault are female.

“We have twice as many reported female victims of elder abuse and only one in five women who experience sexual assault reported it to the police.

“Domestic and family violence is only one of the many forms of violence that women may experience in their lifetime.

“We know women are more likely than men to be the victims of sexual assault, harassment, stalking and technology-facilitated abuse, to which young women are particularly vulnerable.”

Ms Fentiman said the problem was compounded by disturbing cultural attitudes that need to shift.

“Two in five young people believe ‘rape results from men not being able to control their sexual urges’ and nearly two in five people believe that ‘a lot of times women who say they were raped led the man on and later had regrets’,” she said.

“If we want to stop violence before it starts we need to change these dangerous attitudes.

“Key to this will be the plan’s actions aimed at shifting community attitudes and behaviours that support or excuse violence against women.

“It also outlines measures to help the service sector meet the needs of victims, particularly women with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and older women.

“The plan also drives improvements to the justice system experience for women who have experienced violence by providing victims of sexual violence automatic special witness status, and enhancing efforts to hold perpetrators to account and prevent them from reoffending.”

Key actions:

• Partnering with Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety to build an evidence base about the nature of violence;

• $4.4 million for new sexual assault services to support women at Mackay, Moreton Bay, Inala, Ipswich and the Redlands.

• Introduce legislation to Parliament so that commercial vehicle registration holders who fail to comply with determinations of the Advertising Standards Board will face the prospect of having their registration cancelled (Wicked Campers);

• Continue to work with other jurisdictions and the Commonwealth to take action to limit technology-facilitated abuse.

• Amend the Evidence Act 1977 to give adult victims of a sexual offence who are to give evidence against the accused in a criminal proceeding so they have automatic status as a special witness.

• Promote, maintain and annually review the Respectful Relationships Education Program to ensure it reflects current education research and best practice.

The Violence against Women Prevention Plan complements the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy 2016–26, Queensland says: Not now, Not ever and is the final step for Queensland in meeting its commitments under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.

For more information about Queensland Violence against Women Prevention Plan 2016-2022 or to view the plan visit: http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/communityservices/women/queensland-violence-against-women-prevention-plan.

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