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How ‘the worst week ever’ led to a plan for domestic violence, praised by lawyers
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How ‘the worst week ever’ led to a plan for domestic violence, praised by lawyers

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For a few week in November 2023, four women were killed in South Australia in alleged deeds of domestic and family violence.
“That was the worst week before fatal domestic and family violence ever registered in an Australian jurisdiction,” said Mary Leaker, Chief Executive of Emplolden, The Peak Body for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Services in South Australia.
The experience weakened evokes a royal committee in domestic violence in the state.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Natasha Stott Despoja and South Australian Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas issued his last 600-page report, which contains 136 recommendations to put an end to domestic, family and sexual violence in the state.

The report, which heard from 5,000 members of the community and received more than 380 entries, was largely welcomed by lawyers in South Australia as a blueprint for change.

Commissioner Natasha Stott Despoja pronounced the 136 recommendations of the report on Tuesday. Source: MONKEY / Mick Tsiks

‘A blueprint for transforming change’

Leaker, whose organization has submitted two comments to the committee, said that the historical report “contains practical recommendations that will absolutely reduce damage and save lives”.
“We see it as a blueprint for transforming change in our state and how we prevent and respond to homely, family and sexual violence,” she said.
The report showed that from 2021-2022 one in four women in Australia had reported intimate partner violence or family violence since the age of 15, compared to one in eight men.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Stott Despoja said that South Australia led the country to tackle the problem, but now “we are far behind”.

“We have lost our way. The committee has discovered that the domestic, family and sexual violence system in this state is fragmented, it is crisis-driven and it is silent.”
The 136 recommendations of the report include prevention, early intervention, response and recovery, as well as tackling legislation, police, community and service systems.

Important recommendations include:

  • A standards ministerial portfolio for household, family and sexual violence.
  • A five -year strategy about the entire state that includes the four pillars of prevention, early intervention, response and recovery and healing.
  • That police of South Australia elevate the household, family and sexual violence folio to branch or service level, And a training program for all officers.
  • Increasing financing for the domestic and family violence sector That is separate from financing for homelessness services.

Not just a women’s issue

The approach of the entire government is central to the report recommendations.
“The focus on domestic family and sexual violence as a portfolio problem has been particularly in the office of women, and we know that domestic family and sexual violence is a gender issue that has disproportionate consequences for women and girls, but that does not mean that it should be treated as a problem of women,” Laker said.
Some of the recommendations that tackle this include setting up a ministerial portfolio and setting up lived experience advice networks for adults and children to give advice and expertise directly to that minister.
These were also two of the seven recommendations that connected Malinauskas to implement, with a commitment to consider the remaining recommendations before the end of the year and to respond to the remaining recommendations.
A woman in a blue suit speaks in microphones. Behind her is a crowd with posters.

CEO Mary Leaker of the vein who spoke to four women after the murders in 2023 during a meeting in Adelaide. Source: MONKEY / Jacob Shteyman

Our watch, the leading prevention body of Australia, which contributed to the committee through an entry and direct evidence, says that it welcomes the report and the extensive findings.

“This width reflects the scale of the challenge and the need for persistent action at every level of society,” said CEO Patty Kinnersly in a statement.

Listen and feel heard

Proponents also pointed to extensive consultations that the Royal Commission has informed.
Chris Chalubek is CEO of the Australian Refugee Association, which supports around 5,000 newcomers in South Australia every year. In addition to its settlement services, it offers prevention and support programs for domestic and family violence. Chalubek said that the association was proud to get the chance to speak at one of the public hearings and felt “100 percent” listened to.
“Violence is universal, that does not change with culture and circumstances,” he said.

“But some stressors can play in that. We are dealing with [people who have experienced] Many years of uncertainty and fleeing persecution, then refugee camps and setting up in a new culture with new cultural norms. In addition to unemployment, everything that needs to be understood for the communities we work with. “

In the foreground are the back of the heads of four people. They look at four women with microphones in a row in front of the room.

The Australian Refugee Association, based in Adelaide, has a series of culturally safe and supporting programs to prevent and tackle domestic and family violence. Source: Delivered / Australian Refugee Association

Chalubek said that the needs of the association were tackled in the final report and that a self -contained ministerial portfolio would offer the sector a huge boost.

“What we are very happy to see is a really strong, consistent focus in all the recommendations on culturally safe answers, led by the community,” he said.

“Every person, regardless of his language, the country of origin, it really deserves to live freely from violence and to know where to turn.”

Subsequent steps

On Tuesday, Malinauskas said that the seven recommendations that the government had promised to help us to introduce the architecture and administrative arrangements “to help respond to the remaining 129.

Malinauskas acknowledged that there would be some costs in connection with the implementation of the recommendations and that he will now work with his treasury to find out.

“We look forward to seeing the response of the state government,” said Mary Leaker van Mempiken.
Leaker agrees that the termination of household, family and sexual violence in South Australia requires a “persistent uplifting” of financing. She calls on the government to bind to a rapid assessment of expenditure to achieve that.
If you or someone you know are affected by family and domestic violence, call 1800 aspect on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800-Aspect.org.au. Call 000 in an emergency.

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