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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 314 ..

MS FOLLETT (continuing):

I think that in the ACT we can be quite proud of the legislation that we have had on domestic violence; but it is, of course, a fact that the Assembly as we know it is not actually responsible for our parent Act, the domestic violence legislation. That legislation was brought in under Federal jurisdiction as a result of very extensive work done by the Law Reform Commission in the mid-1980s. The legislation that we have in the ACT from the outset has been very progressive. I think it is an example for the rest of Australia. Since the introduction of that early legislation there have been various moves in this Assembly to increase the protection that is offered, predominantly to women and children, by the domestic violence legislation. That is a matter which traditionally has attracted bipartisan support in this Assembly. I hope that that will always be the case.

Mr Speaker, it is a matter of pride to me that one of the recent initiatives in domestic violence was something which I made my own efforts to bring about, and that is the reciprocal recognition of domestic violence protection orders by various States and Territories. I raised that matter at Premiers Conference meetings and COAG meetings and, as a result of that, the issue was in fact referred to the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General. As we know, the legislative amendments that gave recognition to domestic violence protection orders have now been made throughout Australia. It is a significant step forward.

Mr Speaker, whilst looking at the seriousness of domestic violence, we also have to look at whether or not this crime is yet attracting the kind of attention, the kind of recognition, that a crime of this magnitude deserves in our community. It has been estimated that up to 70 per cent of domestic violence goes unreported. I think that is a tragic state of affairs in our society. It says that a large number of women and children who are suffering from domestic violence, who are the victims of domestic violence, are apparently unaware of, or unwilling to seek, the protection of the law to cease that violent situation. It also says to me that there are any number of perpetrators of domestic violence who have not yet appreciated that this is a crime. It is a crime of violence like any other, and it is prohibited by law like any other crime of violence. We have still a very long way to go in raising community awareness of the crime of domestic violence and in persuading both the victims and the perpetrators that this is a matter which will be dealt with with the utmost seriousness by our judicial system.

Mr Speaker, in the ACT our agency concerned with domestic violence is one of the best in the country. I refer to our Domestic Violence Crisis Service - a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week service. I know that the funding of that service has been a priority that has been recognised by all parties in this Assembly, and I trust that that will always remain the case. Mr Speaker, I would therefore like to point to those two issues - the need for continuing community education on the crime of domestic violence and the unreported nature of the crime. The fatal consequences of the crime, I believe, should ensure that this matter reaches the very highest levels of attention in all jurisdictions. Mr Speaker, I also believe that the fact that it has now received attention at the Premiers Conference and COAG levels and also the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General is a good sign. I hope that we will see further initiatives flowing out of that.

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