Not Now, Not Ever

• Influential DFV prevention sector members came together today to raise awareness of domestic and family violence.
• The 2023 Not Now, Not Ever. Together. breakfast highlighted the insidious behaviours that can contribute to coercive control, which the Palaszczuk Government is moving to establish as a stand-alone criminal offence.
• New coercive control community awareness campaign to begin on 18 December.

Victim-survivors, advocates, ambassadors, and change-makers joined together at a powerful morning event today to reinforce the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to eradicating all forms of domestic and family violence (DFV).

The 2023 Not Now, Not Ever. Together breakfast was held in Brisbane, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Yvette D'Ath standing alongside DFV sector advocates and survivors.

More than 900 supporters attended the event, which raised tens of thousands of dollars for women’s support services.

Speakers included Angie Jordan, a survivor of domestic and family violence, who shared her personal story of survival while enduring more than 40 years of abuse.

A panel discussion, facilitated by 7NEWS presenter Kendall Gilding, featured prominent ambassadors for change who shared their insights and diverse experience, including Angie Jordan, Founder and Managing Director, LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation Ben Bjarnesen BM, and DFV survivors Corin Monteiro, and Lucy Jinga Muzungu.

In 2015, the Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland used the phrase “Not Now, Not Ever” to articulate the vision of a Queensland free from all forms of violence.

The Palaszczuk Government has today also released the Year 8 Highlights Card (2022-23), an annual evaluation of Queensland’s wider Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy 2016–2026.

The report shows Queenslanders continue to show consistently high levels of understanding of the behaviours that constitute domestic and family violence (DFV), including controlling and intimidating behaviours.

The Premier and Attorney-General highlighted findings that more Queenslanders than ever before were becoming aware of the physical signs of DFV, with increases in the number of communities and workplaces taking action to support friends and colleagues and significant action being taken to provide housing outcomes for survivors.

Analysis showed improvements in the integration of frontline prevention and support services, as well as within the criminal justice system – noting the work of Queensland’s specialist DFV courts and services.

Data also found that DFV services are receiving increased referrals for perpetrator intervention programs, underlying the importance of community education and awareness to encourage lasting behavioural change.  

Since 2015, the Queensland Government has committed more than $1.5 billion in funding to end domestic, family and sexual violence in the state.

This includes a transformative $588 million package in response to 277 recommendations from the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce’s two reports.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath used the breakfast to announce an advertising campaign - to be launched later this month - which is designed to educate people about coercive control and what that looks like.

Targeted at the general public, 13 to 17-year-olds and First Nation audiences, the campaign will run until the end of February.

The Palaszczuk Government recently progressed a second package of legislation in response to recommendations of the Taskforce – including significant reform to the criminal justice system and amendments to the Criminal Code to establish the offence of coercive control.

The offence will carry a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment and will criminalise conduct of an adult where they coerce or control another person in a domestic relationship which would reasonably cause the person harm.

Quotes attributable to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:

“Queensland is at the forefront of trauma-informed reforms to modernise the criminal justice system and provide the support that victim-survivors need.

“That’s why since 2015 we have committed more than $1.5 billion towards initiatives that support victims and hold persons using violence to account to end DFV in Queensland.

“I had the honour of speaking with a number of survivors today who shared their personal experiences and I’m deeply touched by their resilience and continued dedication to create change.

“This year’s event focused on the behaviours contributing to coercive control, an insidious and controlling form of DFV that doesn’t need to leave a physical mark to have dangerous and lasting negative impacts on the lives of victims.

“Let me be clear, we will not stand for this unacceptable behaviour, just as we will not stand for any form of DFV in our communities.

“To overcome these challenges, we must continue to ask the hard questions and raise awareness of the many forms of violence, promote advocacy and create opportunities for discussion." 

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence, Yvette D’Ath:

“The Taskforce and the recent Commission of Inquiry have provided us with an ambitious legislative reform path to radically improve how we support victims through our justice system and encourage them to come forward to share their experiences in a court of law.

“The Year 8 Highlights Card (2022-23) is a valuable evaluation tool demonstrating what we can achieve, what we have achieved and the important priorities ahead.

“It is a step forward that it has tracked positive impacts across our communities, with more persons within our communities becoming aware of signs of DFV, as we continue to educate on what can be done and what support is available.

“Importantly, funded DFV services have reported increased referrals for perpetrator interventions programs, in order to make lasting and sustainable behavioural change and hold persons using violence to account.

“We will continue to work with the DFV sector, supported by the dedicated efforts of frontline services combating domestic, family, and sexual violence to ensure we are making lasting and sustainable change to protect Queenslanders.

“We must continue to sustain this reform momentum to create a safer Queensland, and one that takes a zero-tolerance approach to DFV.

“Any life lost to violence is unacceptable.”

Quotes attributable to the Master of Ceremonies, Kendall Gilding, 7NEWS Presenter:

"The breakfast provided an invaluable opportunity to increase our understanding of coercive control and the importance of recognising and addressing this form of abuse.

“It was encouraging to see the resilience of the panel members, who bravely shared their at-times harrowing stories and detailed their journeys of hope and healing.

“Those who attended today have walked away armed with an awareness of the challenges involved and the ways they can contribute to eradicating domestic and family violence as we continue to tackle this crisis.”

Further information:

Premier's speech at the The Not Now, Not Ever. Together. Breakfast HERE

The Not Now, Not Ever. Together. Breakfast coincided with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which started last month on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November).

Proceeds from the eventwill be donated to assist the important work of the Combined Women’s Refuge South East Queensland and the North Queensland Combined Women’s Service.

For further information about Queensland initiatives, services and support for people impacted by domestic and family violence, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/getting-support-health-social-issue/support-victims-abuse/domestic-family-violence

The Year 8 Highlights Card can be found here.

To read the 2023 Queensland Social Survey results, visit: https://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/statistics/theme/society/people-communities/domestic-family-violence

The Queensland Government’s 10-year Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy 2016-2026 Year 8 Highlights Card draws heavily on the findings of the Queensland Social Survey, which measures Queensland adults’ attitudes toward domestic and family violence and gender equity

ENDS