While offering praise to the Queensland Government’s domestic violence action plan, a leading UK researcher believes Australia was ‘marking time’ on some legal matters on domestic violence issues.

Addressing a forum linked to locations throughout Queensland, Ms Ellen Malos spoke of concerns arising from UK-based research conducted with 9-16 year old students.

She said Australia’s judicial system, like that of Britain, needed to consider the negative impact of allowing non-resident parents to visit children.

“Research indicates children living with domestic violence suffer and children also often suffer from being in contact with fathers who are violent to their mothers,” she said.

“Domestic violence should be considered in any welfare checklist when considering contact with non-resident parents.” She said laws which prohibit women from moving towns to hinder a father’s contact should be reviewed in Australia.

“There have been a number of cases where women and children have been killed in the UK where the fathers have had contact with the family.” Ms Malos supported Australia’s domestic violence practises, but believed formal law matters needed to reflect the impact on children.

“During the Thatcher government, when resources were being cut back and we were struggling, Australia was still going ahead. In particular during the 1970s the refuge services and family court reforms meant Australia was marching ahead.” Ms Malos returns to the UK on Monday, having spoken to interest groups in Adelaide, Mackay, Melbourne, Perth and Townsville.

Photo: CQU’s Queensland Centre for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Director Heather Nancarrow directs questions for Bristol University researcher Ellen Malos at the statewide forum.