The Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research at CQUniversity has commended Minister Karen Struthers on the introduction and passage of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 early last night (Dec 16).

The legislation received bi-partisan support.

Heather Nancarrow

"In most cases, the Members demonstrated a better understanding of the nature and dynamics of domestic and family violence than was the case when domestic violence legislation was first introduced to Parliament 20 years ago," CDFVR Director, Heather Nancarrow, said.

"One area that members might need further education on, however, is the interpretation of an increase in the numbers of applications for protection orders and the number of police call outs.

"This does not necessarily mean an increase in the incidence of domestic and family violence but may represent, instead, increased confidence that their reports of violence will be taken seriously and acted upon effectively".

In addition to overhauling the domestic and family violence legislation, the State Government has introduced a number of  new initiatives over the past three years, including:

• - a Queensland Government Strategy to Reduce Domestic and Family Violence: For our Sons and Daughters (2009-2014), which includes a trial integrated response to domestic violence in Rockhampton;
• - a Domestic Violence Death Review Unit within the Coroner's Office to systematically review how these deaths may have been prevented;
• - a Safety Upgrades initiative to enable victims, rather than perpetrators, to remain safely in the home after violence;
• - and a state-wide "Act as 1" community education campaign.

"These initiatives, introduced by Minister Struthers, who has worked in community-based domestic violence prevention services, have had positive effects and are likely to have contributed to increased confidence in the system and increased reporting of domestic and family violence", Ms Nancarrow said.

"Our Centre's 2011 research with clients of the trial integrated response to domestic and family violence in Rockhampton showed a high level of client satisfaction with the initiative, especially the safety upgrades."

The State Government invests more than $190 million per annum for women's shelters, regional domestic violence support services, court assistance workers, children's counsellors, programs for those who perpetrate domestic violence and more.

Further, the State Government has signed on to Council of Australian Government's 12-year National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, which aims to prevent violence before it starts, as well as enhance responses to it.

"This initiative has been jointly developed by men and women, as it should be, but it would not, and could not, have been achieved without the representation and actions of women. A key to ending violence against women is gender equality; real equality for women is a key foundation for a significant reduction in domestic violence and cannot be achieved if women are not adequately represented in our most powerful institutions, including Parliament," Ms Nancarrow said.