Domestic Violence Prevention Strategies (Proof)

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About this Item
Speakers - Torbay Mr Richard; McMahon Ms Lylea
Business - Private Members Statements, PRIV
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES
Page: 84

Mr RICHARD TORBAY (Northern Tablelands—Speaker) [6.39 p.m.]: At the numerous police and community team meetings I attend in my electorate, there is always a recurring and constant set of statistics: break and enters are down, assaults have dropped and antisocial behaviour has declined but alcohol-fuelled crime continues to grow, and one of its worst manifestations is domestic and family violence. This scourge has not always received the social condemnation it deserves. Workers in the field note that drunken men who bash their wives, partners or families do not bash up their mates at the pub first. It is a cowardly act perpetrated on those least able to defend themselves and, in the past, perpetrators have got away with it far too often. Fortunately, the Government is acting strategically on this issue and through the State Plan has set a target to reduce the rate of crime, particularly violent crime, by 10 per cent by 2016.

Central to this strategy has been a New South Wales Police Force initiative to appoint nine regional domestic violence coordinators. These coordinators are working from various locations on strategic plans to build a system to support victims and rehabilitate perpetrators. Our police are usually the first point of contact in domestic violence incidents and it is vital that their response is timely, appropriate and effective. Officers have received, or are receiving, special training in victim care and safety as well as dealing speedily with offenders to minimise harm and their capacity for re-offending. They can take out apprehended violence orders on behalf of victims when they consider it necessary.

One of the most important initiatives to come out of the new strategy is the introduction of domestic violence evidence kits, or DVEKs as they are known, which allow police to videotape evidence from victims. It is expected that these kits will lead to a decrease in not guilty pleas in court and expedite the court process, which has proven to be the case at trial locations. Domestic violence evidence kits allow police to video domestic violence incidents, statements from victims, and the premises where the incidents occur, enabling courts to hear from the police and view the footage. It is hoped that this strategy will act as a deterrent to offenders. Currently no legislation exists within the New South Wales jurisdiction to allow video-recorded statements from domestic violence victims to be used as their evidence in chief in court proceedings. These victims are not regarded as vulnerable persons under section 76 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986. This Act defines vulnerable persons as children and cognitively impaired persons. I urge the Attorney General to expand the definition of a vulnerable person to include victims of domestic violence. As the provision stands it is an aberration and a deterrent to providing justice to victims of these abhorrent crimes.

A high percentage of police time is taken up dealing with repeat offenders. The new strategy aims to toughen up procedures to ensure perpetrators of domestic and family violence are arrested and suffer the consequences of their serious crimes. This year a domestic violence liaison officer based at Armidale police station has been appointed to serve communities across the New England Local Area Command. She has been working closely with local courts, government departments and agencies, and community organisations. The strategy involves collaboration between the magistrate, the domestic violence liaison officer, the regional domestic violence coordinator and court support staff to implement a best-practice model designed to challenge attitudes, to promote strategic collaboration and to review individual performance and outcomes for victims. It creates an effective network to manage all the issues involved in domestic and family violence. The Staying Home Leaving Violence program—a partnership between the Department of Community Services, Housing NSW and the police—is an example. This program aims to prevent women and children's homelessness by assisting women who have experienced domestic violence to remain safely in their own homes without the perpetrator of violence.

At the preventative level, coordinators work with schools on programs to equip young people to seek help if they are victims of family violence and also on how to avoid becoming perpetrators in adult life. Community programs for men are also incorporated into the holistic program. It is important, especially in rural and remote areas, to foster the skills of service providers to enhance the wellbeing of their clients, particularly in indigenous communities. Skills shortages leave rural and remote communities without appropriate services to deal with violent crime. I urge the Government to fund and extend these services at an adequate and ongoing level to support these innovative and effective initiatives.

Ms LYLEA McMAHON (Shellharbour—Parliamentary Secretary) [6.45 p.m.]: I thank the member for Northern Tablelands for bringing to the attention of the House the important social issue of alcohol-fuelled violence. I concur fully with the member's comments about domestic violence being a cowardly act. It is certainly an issue I work hard on in my electorate as well. I thank the member for bringing to the attention of the House some of the good work the Government is doing in this area and I give him my commitment to raise the legislation with the Attorney General.