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Domestic and family violence reforms showing progress, new report says
The first progress report on domestic and family violence reforms in Queensland has been released and reveals the “extensive work” already done to implement change.
Lauren Croft
Released late last year, the first independent progress report of the Palaszczuk Government’s historic Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce reforms to end domestic and family violence and criminalise coercive control has shown a number of positive changes in the state.
This came after the release of the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce’s first report, Hear Her Voice — and the bill sought to address several of the important recommendations made in that study.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman said the progress report prepared by Linda Apelt, the interim independent implementation supervisor, revealed considerable work has since been achieved.
“We have embarked on an unprecedented program of reforms to tackle domestic and family violence and make our state a safer and more respectful place for women and girls,” she said.
“Since 2015, we’ve invested more than $1.3 billion to eliminate domestic, family and sexual violence and improve the experiences of women and girls in the criminal justice system, with much of the recent work now being driven by the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce’s Hear Her Voice reports one and two.
“Already 74 of the 84 recommendations contained in the first taskforce report that were directed at government are either underway or have been delivered. The remainder are due to commence at a later phase of implementation or are dependent on another recommendation being delivered first.”
The progress report represented significant work across multiple agencies, added Ms Fentiman.
“The interim independent implementation supervisor has found agencies are strongly committed to achieving meaningful reforms through their approach to implementation,” she said.
“I sincerely thank Ms Apelt for her efforts in overseeing the progress of our ambitious reform program.”
In response to Report One of the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce recommendations, the Queensland government has conducted a commission of inquiry into police responses to domestic and family violence, uplifted Domestic Violence High Risk Teams to support growing demand and begun work to establish three new teams in Townsville, Brisbane South and Rockhampton and introduced the coercive control bill.
The government has also revised the Common Risk and Safety Framework to support a more consistent response to Queenslanders experiencing domestic and family violence and allow for appropriate support across the state and appointed an independent implementation supervisor with responsibility for overseeing implementation was a recommendation of both the first and second taskforce reports as well as the commission of inquiry into Queensland Police Service responses to domestic and family violence.
Ms Apelt said agencies do not have an easy task ahead but are demonstrating a “strong and clear commitment” to implementing these changes.
“It is an honour to serve in the role of interim independent implementation supervisor, and I thank the many agency representatives I have met with so far. The breadth, scale, and complexity of the program of reform to be undertaken is not to be underestimated,” she said.
“However, I acknowledge the extensive work already underway by agencies to deliver on the government’s commitments. My initial view is that they are making steady progress towards honouring the voices of everyone who told their story or contributed to the Hear Her Voice and A Call to Change reports.”
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
