Page 3175 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 12 September 1990
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Domestic violence occurs amongst all groups in the community, whether middle class or working class, old or young, black or white, English or non-English speaking. The people who commit domestic violence are often outwardly respectable and responsible members of the community. The break the silence campaign conducted through the national domestic violence education program has done much to raise community awareness of this community problem.
The ACT, along with other State governments, has been an active participant in the three-year program. The Commonwealth-State National Committee on Violence against Women is a commitment from all governments to stop domestic violence. This committee will focus on the experiences and needs of women subject to violence in all its forms, and will aim for the elimination of violence against women from Australian society. The ACT will participate on this committee, which is expected to meet shortly. Domestic violence can be effectively tackled only if every government in Australia backs it with action, and this is the first step.
The ACT community is no stranger to domestic violence. This year the Domestic Violence Crisis Service has had an average of 430 crisis calls per month. Each month its officers have made an average of 120 crisis intervention visits, and 60 of those have had police accompanying them. Where would we be without this Domestic Violence Crisis Service? Each month about 40 prosecution orders under the Domestic Violence Act are issued by ACT magistrates.
Mr Speaker, this Government finds domestic violence totally unacceptable. The Alliance Government is committed to the prevention of domestic violence and to the protection of domestic violence victims. Today we are debating amendments to our domestic violence legislation which demonstrate that commitment.
Under the Act protection will be extended to family and household members who may also be victims of domestic violence. This will include a person who is living, or who has originally lived, in the same household as the perpetrator, and a person who is, or has been, a relative of the perpetrator, as well as the children of these people. This means that parents, grandparents and adult children with mental or physical disabilities will be protected under the new legislation. Further, children will have the right to apply for a protection order in their own right to ensure their safety and, if unable to do this themselves, legal assistance be made available.
This Bill is a result of a review undertaken by agencies involved with the operation of the Domestic Violence Act. Those agencies included the Domestic Violence Crisis Service, many women's services within the ACT, the courts, the police and the ACT Legal Aid Office; all who are working to prevent domestic violence. The responsibility rests with all of us. I urge you to work for an ACT
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