Major change to tackle 'shocking' problem in Australia
Police reform around the threat of domestic violence aims to tackle to troubling scourge after years of horror statistics.
It's a dark problem that continues to persist in Australia despite successive federal governments paying plenty of lip service to it and spending billions of dollars trying to fix it.
But the horrible stories keep piling up.
"It's not something that is making a lot of news, but it should," said journalist Amy Remeikis while appearing on the ABC's Insiders program on Sunday morning.
"Thirty-eight women have been killed this year in family and domestic violence, including nine in 16 days," she lamented.
"And while we talk about big national emergencies, this is one that just keeps getting swept under the rug."
The political reporter raised the issue at the end of the program when guests are offered a chance to bring up an unprompted "final thought" with host David Speers agreeing they were "shocking numbers" before quickly moving on.
It comes days after a young West Australian mum was killed in a suspected murder suicide by her ex partner on Thursday.
According to advocacy group OurWatch, "on average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner" in Australia. But 30 weeks into 2023, and the number of fatalities is sadly tracking to be in excess of that.
Big change coming to domestic violence policing
In NSW, an Australian-first register will be set up to monitor repeat domestic violence offenders as police in the state overhaul how they deal with serious attacks on women.
Officers will be given special training under the changes, with a dedicated team also providing oversight and monitoring of high-risk perpetrators. Legal specialists and a consultant psychologist will also be on board to help connect victims with support services and guide them through the legal process.
The landmark overhaul from authorities comes in the wake of a series of domestic violence-related killings across the state in recent months. On July 5, 30-year-old mother-of-three Amira Moughnieh was found dead at her home in southern Sydney with her estranged husband charged with her murder. Less than a week later, 50-year-old Christine Rakic was dead by the time police arrived at her Western Sydney home. Her estranged husband was later charged.
Police hope to reduce red tape, boost collaboration and predict DV threats
Superintendent Danielle Emerton is set to oversee the new operation by NSW Police and hopes to reduce much of the paperwork and red tape involved in dealing with domestic violence cases.
"We have a predictive model to analyse the likelihood that an offender will cause serious harm, which allows us to put strategies in place to neutralise the threat," she said.
Similar to the child-protection register, the NSW system will allow police stations across the state to feed intelligence into the domestic and family violence register. It is hoped the registry will help police to better co-ordinate resources and work with other service providers.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the registry would help police provide advice, guidance and responses to domestic and family violence incidents around the clock.
"Domestic and family violence is one of today’s most challenging and complex community issues; it feels like an epidemic. It is time for that to change," she said in a statement on Sunday morning.
"I see the Domestic and Family Violence Registry as being central to that change, not just within our organisation, but also through improved collaboration with service providers, advocates, and other key stakeholders."
The overhaul follows recommendations from an auditor-general's report which found significant changes were needed within the force's response to domestic and family violence.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said vicious criminal assaults were occurring where people should feel the most safe, within their own homes.
"With a minuscule number of exceptions, it is men attacking women and children in their own homes," she said. "It's hard to think of many worse categories of crime."
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au
with AAP
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