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Coercive control criminalised as state pledges $363m to fight DV
Coercive control will be criminalised, police practices probed and domestic and family violence courts expanded under a historic $363m State Government plan to better protect Queensland women against domestic violence.
Coercive control will be criminalised in Queensland as part of a historic $363 million investment to better protect women against domestic violence.
The Palaszczuk government this morning announced the major reforms following Justice Margaret McMurdo’s landmark Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce’s first report Hear Her Voice that was handed down in December.
Along with better support for women, a commission of inquiry will be held into police practices while there will be an expansion of the domestic and family violence courts.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said coercive control was the most common factor that lead to "intimate partner murder".
"It was what Hannah Clarke suffered before she and her three children were so brutally killed,'" she said.
"The $363 million package I announce today will provide programs to recognise and prevent it as well as the laws that will punish its perpetrators."
Justice McMurdo's taskforce received more than 700 submissions from women and girls who shared their experiences of domestic and family violence.
"As a result of those submissions, we will also conduct a commission of inquiry into police practices investigating reports of domestic and family violence," the Premier said.
"In addition, the police service will trial a collaborative co-response model involving police and specialist DFV services working together in a number of locations.
"A key focus will be recognising coercive control and a pattern of behaviours over time."
Ms Palaszczuk said $106 million will be invested in improving safety for victims attending court.
"We will expand specialist DV courts," she said.
"There will be more support for victims and a special strategy for First Nations communities."Above all we will hear her voice."
The Taskforce's second report will be handed to government next month.
Vanessa Fowler, who is Alison Baden-Clay's sister and who is the co-chair of the government’s taskforce, was sitting in parliament this morning for the announcement.
She was joined by her parents Geoff and Priscilla Dickie.
Sue and Lloyd Clarke, Hannah Clarke's parents, were also in the House.
Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said the $360m reform package was “historic”, saying it would fundamentally transform the system so that it is “trauma-informed” and puts survivors at the forefront.
“We know that non-physical violence is just as dangerous as physical violence, and that coercive control is the biggest predicting factor for intimate partner homicide,” she said.
“Queensland women and children deserve to live free from the threat of violence without fear for their safety.”
Ms Fentiman said laws would be amended, which would include modernising the offence of stalking.
She also said the changes would go beyond law reforms to include the expansion of specialist DV courts, increasing funding for perpetrator programs, and expanding high-risk teams.
“In our government response ... we agree with the recommendation of the taskforce to implement their recommendations in a four phased approach to ensure that we are both reforming the criminal justice system, and educating the community and training first responders,” Ms Fentiman said.
The Attorney-General said the system’s current approach of responding to a single, usually physical incident of domestic violence would change so that it will instead respond to patterns of controlling behaviour over time.
Updates
Question time ends
LNP asks: How many patients die in police cars?
Opposition Police spokesman Dale Last has asked Police Minister Mark Ryan how many patients have died in a police car on the way to the hospital because an ambulance was not available.
Mr Last was referring to news this week police had been asked to help paramedics amid worsening ramping.
Mr Ryan said it was usual for emergency services to partner, as they do during times of disaster.
"It's what Queenslanders would demand from their emergency services, that they work together," he said.
"From time to time police officers are requred to assit ambulance officers when a patient might be violent… or having a mental health issue."
Mr Ryan accused Mr Last of believing police officers shouldn't be involved, which he said could "put paramedics in life-threatening situations".
– Hayden Johnson
LNP asks: How many patients die in police cars?
Opposition Police spokesman Dale Last has asked Police Minister Mark Ryan how many patients have died in a police car on the way to the hospital because an ambulance was not available.
Mr Last was referring to news this week police had been asked to help paramedics amid worsening ramping.
Mr Ryan said it was usual for emergency services to partner, as they do during times of disaster.
"It's what Queenslanders would demand from their emergency services, that they work together," he said.
"From time to time police officers are requred to assit ambulance officers when a patient might be violent… or having a mental health issue."
Mr Ryan accused Mr Last of believing police officers shouldn't be involved, which he said could "put paramedics in life-threatening situations".
– Hayden Johnson
Andrew: What impact will RBA have?
One Nation's Stephen Andrew has asked Treasurer Cameron Dick what impact the RBA's interest rate hike will have on Queensland's debt repayments.
Mr Dick said Queensland had the second strongest performing economy in the country – which he suggested meant debt and deficits would be lower.
– Jack McKay
Greens question transition from coal-fired power station
It's a change of tune with Greens MP Michael Berkman noting the Queensland Resources Council anticipates coal-fired power stations could close within 10 years.
He said this was in contrast to the Energy Minister's comments, who said Queensland won't close any coal stations over the next decade.
Mr Berkman questioned why the state government was "refusing to face reality at the expense of a transition plan for coal workers?"
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk talked-up her government's record of investing in renewable energy and the significant investments in hydrogen made by Fortescue boss Andrew Forrest.
"Queensland is very blessed to have an abundance of coal and gas and renewables," she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said her government had a track record on renewables and was the first to provide community charging stations for electric vehicles.
"We are embracing that (renewables) with open arms – it's not the Greens who are doing it – it's the government" she said.
– Hayden Johnson
More questions around Qld's forensic lab
LNP frontbencher Amanda Camm has asked Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk what further evidence she was seeking to "fix" the forensic lab in Queensland.
Ms Palaszczuk pointed to this morning's release of the terms of reference for a review into the lab.
She said the review would begin very shortly.
– Domanii Cameron
Forensic services review will be released: Premier
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has committed to immediately releasing the report into the review of forensic and scientific services systems as soon as it is finished.
She was questioned about the issue by Shadow Attorney-General and justice spokesman Tim Nicholls.
– Jack McKay
D'Ath 'happy to organise a hearing test' for LNP frontbencher
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath is again the target of the LNP with Shadow Treasurer David Janetzki asking her to explain "why more money isn't fixing Queensland's health crisis?"
Ms D'Ath hit back.
"I'm happy to organise a hearing test for him," she said.
"As I've said to the previous questions asked of me today, we continue to invest in both our frontline health workers and also expanding our capital infrastructure in this state."
Ms D'Ath said it was "not easy" to build new health infrastructure but said the Palaszczuk Government had a track record of keeping people safe through the Covid-19 pandemic.
– Hayden Johnson
"What is unique to Queensland is the third term Palaszczuk government"
Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie has pointed to the government's claims that issues causing ambulance ramping were not unique to Queensland.
"What is unique to Queensland is the third term Palaszczuk government," he said.
"Given this, can the Minister explain why Queensland has the worst ambulance ramping in the nation?"
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said she disputed Mr Bleijie's claims.
She said she would proudly stand by the government's record every day.
"The thought of what an LNP government would have done during Covid … is horrifying," she said.
– Domanii Cameron
Bates joins questions of government's health record
LNP health spokeswoman Ros Bates has asked how regional Queenslanders can trust the government to fix the "health crisis", as she referred to ramping data in different parts of the state.
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the government continued to invest in infrastructure in the regions, and pointed to the recent opening of the Kingaroy Hospital as an example.
She insisted people across Queensland should have state of the art facilities regardless of where they lived.
Ms D'Ath accused the LNP of pretending that there were not broader issues that were putting pressure on the hospital system, as she again argued that it was a national problem.
– Jack McKay
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