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Qld to examine women in criminal justice system
A task force comprising barristers, principal law officers and other legal experts will examine the experiences of women across the criminal justice system, led by the former Lawyer X inquiry commissioner Margaret McMurdo AC.
Naomi Neilson
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that while the state has made “significant progress” towards preventing and responding to domestic, family and sexual violence, “we know there is more work to be done”. This included last month’s announcement to legislate coercive control under the task force’s initiative.
“We know that the experience of the criminal justice system for women as victims, survivors or accused is different than it is for men,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“We also know that women and girls are disproportionately affected as victims of sexual assault, but it remains one of the most under-reported crimes and only a small proportion of reported cases are prosecuted in court and achieve conviction.”
Ms Palaszczuk added that women also face a range of barriers when they seek help, “which can draw out the legal process adding to their trauma”. She said that with one in five women having experienced sexual violence since 15 and one in four women experiencing violence at the hands of their partner, “we want to make sure that these crimes are being reported and justice is being done”.
“My government is committed to generational change and that’s why we’re leading an ongoing program of reform to end domestic, family and sexual violence, and to improve the criminal justice system for women,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
The task force will be led by Justice Margaret McMurdo, who recently finished up her role as commissioner of the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants (RCMPI). She is also the former president of the Queensland Court of Appeal and was the first female president of an appellate court in Australia.
It will examine how to best legislate against coercive control, the need for a new offence of “commit domestic violence and other areas warranting future reform to improve women’s experiences, including legislative and non-legislative changes.
State Attorney-General and the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Shannon Fentiman said the task force would deliver the critical legislative framework needed to better protect women. She said that she is in “constant awe” of the strength and courage shown by Queensland women when they come forward.
“Supporting victims, listening and believing them, is more important than ever,” Ms Fentiman said. “As well as recognising the trauma of victims and the support they need with media headlines dominated by domestic, family and sexual violence.
“The Women’s Safety and Justice taskforce will look into possible future areas of reform, including attitudinal change, prevention, service response, training for first responders and legislative amendment. Each member of the taskforce has an in-depth knowledge of women’s experience across the criminal justice system.”
The task force has been asked to provide its recommendations on how to best legislate against coercive control by October 2021 and to deliver recommendations to government on how to best improve women’s experiences by March 2022.
The task force includes:
- Tracy Linford AMP, deputy commissioner of Queensland Police Service
- Laura Reece, barrister
- Di MacLeod, deputy director of Queensland Sexual Assault Network
- Gillian O'Brien, manager of WWILD
- Thelma Schwartz, principal legal officer of Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service
- Patrick O'Leary, professor at Griffith University
- Kelly-Ann Tansley, manager at Brisbane Domestic Violence Service
- Dr Nora Amath, Islamic Women’s Association of Australia
- Philip McCarthy QC, acting deputy director of public prosecutions
- Alexis Oxley, solicitor
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
