Under-30s make up one-third of DV offenders

One third of domestic violence offenders in Queensland are under the age of 30, according to shock new figures.

One third of domestic violence offenders in Queensland are under the age of 30, according to shock new figures.

And up to 40 per cent of those reported by police and other agencies to the state’s eight high-risk family violence teams are under 25.

Revelations around the young age of so many of the state’s worst offenders, recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, comes as Attorney-General and Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Shannon Fentiman called for parents, carers, teachers, coaches and mentors to take note and think deeply about how to instil greater respect for women in young boys during May’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.

“Achieving positive and lasting cultural change is key to ending DFV,” Minister Fentiman said.

She said while significant progress had been made, much more was clearly required as she pointed to attitudes recorded in a national survey that show while males aged 16 to 24 said they supported gender equality, they held concerning views around relationships and control, including 40 per cent who said it was natural for a man to want to appear in control of his partner in front of his friends.

“All of us, including individuals, the government, corporate, and community sectors have an important role to play in DFV prevention and changing the culture and attitudes that underpin this form of violence in our community,” Ms Fentiman said.

“We know violence against women is inextricably tied to gender inequality and underpinned by a lack of respect for women and girls.

“Changing attitudes and instilling respect for women is paramount in ending violence

perpetrated against them, and we need to start with young people.”

She said the fact so many offender were young men was “unacceptable, and clearly demonstrate the responsibility we all have to eliminate DFV among young people in our community”, she said.

“Unfortunately, attitudes are reflected in crime statistics with recent data released by the ABS indicating 36 per cent of DFV offenders in Queensland are aged under 30 – that’s one in three.

“Our own High Risk Teams, which address the most serious and high risk cases of domestic and family violence, are seeing over 22 per cent of perpetrators aged 25 and under.

“In some High Risk Teams, this figure jumps to as high as 40 per cent.

“I am urging parents, carers, educators, coaches, mentors and friends to begin a conversation about respect for women to challenge and change the attitudes among our young men and boys regarding DFV.”

For help call 1800RESPECT