Editorial: Disturbing new numbers expose growing DV problem

Five years after the deaths of Hannah Clarke and her children, domestic violence in Queensland is even more prevalent, writes the editor.

Hannah Clarke and her children were murdered by their husband and father.

More than five years have passed since the horrific murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children, and a question continues to hover over this state: “Are we doing enough to stem the tide of domestic violence?’’

The sad – and tragic – truth is that we have a long road to travel before we can answer that question in the affirmative.

Because, as The Courier-Mail reveals today in painful detail, domestic violence in this state is not going away, but growing even more prevalent in our community, even as new laws are implemented and public education campaigns are launched in attempts to change the culture that for too long allowed this scourge to go largely unaddressed.

Hannah, from Brisbane’s Camp Hill, was murdered along with her three children Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey by her estranged husband in February 2020.

Hannah’s car was doused with petrol and set alight while she was driving the children to school.

Community grief and outrage in the wake of that horrific event still reverberate throughout the state.

Hannah’s parents, Lloyd and Sue, determined to build a safer world where such an event would be unthinkable, began a campaign, supported strongly by The Courier-Mail, which led to coercive control becoming a criminal offence.

Yet today we have to reveal the disturbing truth that, even as the fight against domestic violence escalates, so too does the crime itself.

There has been a surge in domestic violence in Queensland the past few months alone, with record-breaking domestic and family violence breaches and a chilling rise in fatal attacks against women and children.

We have made little headway in the five years since their deaths.

In just five months, 2025 has already recorded 35,032 breaches, more than half last year’s total of 61,896.

If the current trend continues, Queensland is on track to surpass 77,000 breaches this year, a 12 per cent increase on 2024, and more than double the 36,118 breaches recorded in 2020.

Women’s Legal Service Queensland answered more than 15,700 calls for help in the 2024-25 financial year, a 10 per cent increase on the previous year.

As Women’s Legal Service Queensland CEO Nadia Bromley says, there is a tragic reality at work here – domestic violence is a complex problem with no easy solutions.

Stopping violence in the home between partners is going to require a huge investment in changing the culture that allowed it to flourish in the first place.

We are going to need more early intervention and behaviour change programs if we are to see this crime recede from our lives.

As Bromley says, it is imperative we support people who suffer abuse.

But we also have to take the steps to stop the violence flaring in the first place, because court orders alone are clearly not good enough.

One key issue is that women who are victims of this form of violence often find they have a choice between suffering in silence, or becoming homeless.

Social workers on the front line often find separated couples still cohabitating under the same roof, largely because women choose to stay in their dangerous environment rather than taking their chances living on the street.

Governments, police and the community are all doing their bit to identify this problem, call it out and ensure the perpetrators are identified and charged.

But, clearly, it is not enough.

If we are to honour the memory of Hannah and her children, we must redouble our efforts in combating domestic violence, and continue our work to ensure that Queensland becomes a place where there is, quite literally, zero tolerance for this shameful and appalling crime.

BACK IN THE SWIM

Less than a week after we celebrated the seven-year countdown to the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, Australia’s superstar swim team is once again in the water chasing world championship glory.

The nation’s swimmers – with the usual large contingent of Queenslanders – are always at the forefront of our Games gold medal hopes and dreams, and although its still a long way to go to Brisbane 2032, a strong showing at this week’s championships will give fans reason to be excited.

Homegrown heroes Mollie O’Callaghan and Kaylee McKeown will be among the Queenslanders leading the charge this week in Singapore, with the former in the running to break the record for the Australian with the most world championship titles.

The 21-year-old O’Callaghan, from St Peters Western swim club in Indooroopilly, has a stellar record at the world champs, and is rapidly closing on Ian Thorpe’s Australian record of 11 titles.

We wish Mollie and all the Aussies good luck in their chase for gold this week.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here