Page 2850 - Week 09 - Thursday, 13 August 2015
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steps that they have taken in the area of domestic violence. And this has been a topic that I think has been litigated both here and in the community, and it is clear that this is a scourge on our society, not just in the ACT but across the nation.
Steps are being taken. There are further steps that need to be taken. There is no doubt about that. There is much to be done. And I am not going to agree with the government on all areas of domestic violence. I think that there are additional resources required. I have called for a specific domestic violence court, and I will talk about that a bit later.
But I do believe that this is an area where the government and the opposition have been able, through cooperation—in essence by not competing with each other by the competition of ideas, by putting suggestions forward—to advance collectively the cause of tackling domestic violence in this town. So I thank those members in the Labor Party and also Mr Rattenbury in the Greens for that cooperation, that attitude, and I look forward not necessarily to agreeing on everything but to advancing the cause of tackling domestic violence in this town, which I know is dear to the hearts of many and I am sure all in this chamber.
There was a domestic violence roundtable that was conducted that many of the members here attended and that many of those who are at the forefront of tackling domestic violence in this town attended. We also heard from victims at that meeting. I think many of us learned a lot. Certainly I took much away from that meeting and clearly gained a better understanding of the complexities of the issues.
Some of the key things I took away are the need for greater resources, the need to augment those on the front line who are tackling this issue but also the need for greater prevention, because ultimately you can throw as much resources, perhaps, at an issue as you like but if you do not stop it happening it is going to be an endless battle. I think that the focus that we need is on greater prevention, because that is better for everybody. It takes pressure off the system but more importantly it means that fewer people, in particular women and children, are facing the ill effects of domestic violence. So I commend all those that participated in the roundtable and all those at the front line of tackling domestic violence.
As I said, I have responded to calls from many of those on the front line who have sought a domestic violence court and the improvements that that can make. I have made that call. Certainly I think that is an area which would assist in the preventative space. And this was the subject of a motion in the last sitting period. But it followed on from calls from people in the community and the Women’s Legal Centre. Elena Rosenman made some comments calling for the domestic violence court, and John Hinchey made similar calls. Those quotes are available in Hansard when I moved the motion in the last sitting period. I think that this is a worthy endeavour. It would help. It is not a silver bullet. There is no panacea. But it would certainly be an important step.
I know that the government are now considering this. The motion was amended for the government to consider this. Although I want to see it implemented sooner rather than later I encourage the government to get on with considering it and they will have support of the opposition should they proceed in that direction.
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