SA Election 2018: SA Best domestic violence policies include GPS tracking of abusers

TRACKING violent abusers by GPS and rental subsidies to help victims to start over in a safe home are the key planks of an SA Best policy to arrest the growing toll of domestic violence.

MONITORING violent abusers by GPS and subsidising rent for victims starting over in a safe home are key planks of an SA Best policy to arrest the growing toll of domestic violence.

The party would also push for funding for legal and emergency housing services working at the frontline of the social scourge.

The commitments come amid The Advertiser’s #Engage4ChangeSA campaign, which is advocating for better policies for women in the lead-up to the March state election.

The Advertiser has revealed that 35 South Australians have died as a result of family violence since mid-2010, mostly women and children.

“Victims should not have to live their lives constantly looking over their shoulders,” SA Best Mawson candidate and domestic violence spokeswoman Hazel Wainwright said.

“GPS tracking has been in place in Spain since 2005 and in many other places around the world for years. We know it works.”

The data about abusers’ movements would be “vital” to increasing prosecutions for breaches of bail, parole or conditions set out in court orders put in place to protect their victims, Ms Wainwright said.

The SA Corrections Department is trialling real-time monitoring of up to 90 domestic violence offenders fitted with ankle bracelets, funded by a federal grant of almost $500,000. However, Ms Wainwright said a “fully implemented” scheme was necessary.

“Too often, victims say their abuser goes unpunished for breaching conditions of a protection order, such as stalking them or damaging their property, because there is not enough evidence,” she said.

“GPS data would make conviction easier.”

Ms Wainwright said SA Best would introduce law changes to ensure repeated breaches were treated as an aggravated offence, subject to tougher penalties.

“We will act decisively to ensure offenders cannot continue to flout the law and strike fear into their victims (who) deserve to live their lives in peace,” she said.

Those who do manage to leave a violent relationship often struggle to find secure housing.

Ms Wainwright said they should be offered short-term financial support through a scheme like the NSW Rent Choice Start Safely Program.

The SA Best policy also includes $200,000 for two extra lawyers at the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service, which is expected to help 800 people this year.

Other commitments are $100,000 a year for Catherine House to expand its emergency program offering temporary housing, meals and support for 16 people, and $50,000 to shift Catherine House from paper to online records.

For help phone 1800 RESPECT or the Domestic Violence Crisis Line on 1800 800 098.