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Education Minister Christopher Pyne and Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese appeared this morning on Channel Nine's TODAY to present a united commitment to addressing domestic violence in Australia. Commenting, "The evil of domestic violence which leads to murder is something that we have to do absolutely everything to stamp out," Mr Pyne announced the coalition had committed $1.3 billion to addressing the issue. The money would also cover related factors like homelessness, drugs management, and access to affordable legal services.
While the money is undoubtedly needed and welcomed, he admitted that no amount of funding will extinguish the crisis, and that a wider cultural shift was needed. "The whole community needs to unite in horror about what's happened this week and do whatever we can to stamp it out," he said.
His comments are in response to the murder of two Queensland women by men they knew and had abusive relationships with. Karina Lock was shot in a crowded car park by her former partner Stephen Lock. Witnesses reported seeing the two argue and him physically restrain her before producing a gun. Tara Brown was run off the road by her ex-boyfriend Lionel Patea, and beaten to death with a metal object while trapped in her wrecked car. The young mother had gone to the Southport police station days earlier to seek advice on how to leave her abusive partner. She showed them text messages from Patea, but was told there was nothing they could do about it.
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The incidents have resulted in the Queensland government vowing to take stronger action on the plague of violence against women in the state. Admitting they have lagged behind other states on the issue, Premier Palaszczuk said she would consider increasing funding to combat the issue, and provide resources to a key domestic violence helpline.
The state's police have also vowed to review procedures following their heinous lack of action on behalf of Tara Brown. Reforms being considered include making domestic violence cases more of a priority, improving evidence gathering and prosecution rates, and arresting offenders instead of issuing them with notices to appear in court. Considering death at the hands of a partner or ex-partner is the leading cause of death and injury to women under 45 in the country, it's shocking the issue is only now being considered a priority. Deputy Commissioner Brett Pointing has commented that he is considering the changes.
For now, Mr Pointing reports they have organised a two-day workshop in Brisbane for the state's domestic violence co-ordinators: "There is a whole range of things I'm currently working on with my team…setting benchmarks for best practice, and reviewing the way we measure performance".
In Australia, between 80 and 100 women are killed by their male partners every year. In 2009 it was estimated that violence against women and children costs the country $13.6 billion annually. Lets hope it's a hell of a work shop.
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