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Family violence ‘the most pressing issue of terrorism’ facing Australia: Rosie Batty
The current family law inquiry has the potential to weaken existing safety protections in the system, when it is required to do significantly more, argues former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty.
Jerome Doraisamy
Speaking late last week in the wake of the Baxter family tragedy in Brisbane, Ms Batty said this “unspeakable act of violence” should force elected representatives to deeply consider their stances and leadership on the issues of domestic violence.
The family law court system must play a “significant” role in ensuring that children are kept safe, Ms Batty continued.
“The decisions that are made through this system impact on the wellbeing of children dramatically and have the potential of placing children at further risk of harm or enabling them to reach their potential without fear and trauma impacting their development,” she added.
“The current family law inquiry has the potential to weaken existing safety protections in the system, when it is required to do significantly more.”
“We are all devastated and deeply affected by these calculated and senseless murders and stunned by their hideous cruelty. I am overwhelmed and, like so many, full of despair.”
Ms Batty also expressed concern about language used by certain authority figures, as well as media outlets, in presenting the alleged murderer “as a loving father”.
“A loving parent never considers murder as ever being an option or a solution. No one is ‘driven’ to murder no matter the circumstances or situation that they find themselves in. Murder is a decision that is deliberate and driven by the need to exact revenge and achieve the ultimate act of power and control,” she posited.
“Although mental health, drugs and alcohol can be contributing factors, violence is always a choice and one that we should not continue to make excuses for.”
Late last year, the Law Council of Australia called a funding injection of $15.5 million from the federal government into the family law system “unacceptable”. Women’s Legal Services Queensland has also called upon the federal government to create a specialised domestic violence court.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. In June 2024, he also assumed the editorship of HR Leader. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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