South Australia to establish Royal Commission into domestic violence following spate of deaths

A Royal Commission into domestic and family violence will be held in South Australia following a spate of deaths, Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced.

A Royal Commission into domestic, sexual and family violence to be held in South Australia will probe how to better protect women and children.

Following a roundtable discussion with leaders in domestic violence prevention, Premier Peter Malinauskas announced a 12-month inquiry will be held.

Mr Malinauskas said the commission will aim to provide the government and the community with “a very clear path and plan” to reduce and prevent domestic violence.

“We should be realistic about the fact that a Royal Commission and a set of recommendations on their own is not going to provide the substantial cultural change that is required in this area,” he said.

“But it can provide a positive start in delivering a policy change that gives us the outcome we’re looking for.”

The announcement comes following a surge in domestic violence-related deaths, with five South Australian women dying in a recent 18-day period allegedly at the hands of men known to them.

Domestic violence victim Rosie Batty, Premier Peter Malinauskas and Prevention of Domestic Violence Minister Katrine Hildyard at the roundtable into domestic violence on Wednesday. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

The state government has committed $3m to the Royal Commission, and aims to have the terms of reference finalised and a commissioner appointed by mid-February 2024.

Mr Malinauskas said the government had looked into whether it could have taken on the findings of Victoria’s Royal Commission into Family Violence, but found the South Australian context was too different.

He said the 12-month time frame would be crucial.

“This will not be a Royal Commission that drags on for years, as we’ve seen with some other recent Royal Commissions in Australia,” he said.

Domestic violence victim Rosie Batty before the roundtable discussion into domestic violence on Wednesday. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Prevention of Domestic Violence Minister Katrine Hildyard said the Royal Commission will enable survivors to have a say about what would make a difference to them.

“This Royal Commission sends a really important signal to those women who are surviving domestic, family and sexual violence, and also to men that we want to change their behaviour,” she said.

“It sends a really important message to the whole of our community, to the whole of the sector, to the corporate world, right across government, that this issue is of the utmost important to address and that together ... our government will take a step forward in addressing it.”

High-profile advocate Rosie Batty, who attended the meeting, welcomed the announcement.

“A Royal Commission will transform the system and it will save lives,” she said.

“We cannot keep doing the same as what we’ve been doing because we are failing too many people.”

General manager of the Embolden advocacy group Mary Leaker said the Royal Commission will deliver the state “a critical blueprint for change that will keep women and children safer in South Australia”.

“This blueprint for change will drive effective investment in South Australia across prevention, early intervention, crisis response, recovery and healing,” she said.

Opposition Leader David Speirs said a Royal Commission was “the right move to address unprecedented domestic and family violence in South Australia”.

“We are relieved Peter Malinauskas has finally agreed to this crucial course of action, falling in behind sector experts and the Liberal Party,” he said.

“We must do everything we can to end domestic and family violence and a Royal Commission is an opportunity to deep dive into the system to better understand and act to protect women and children.”