New panel to combat Domestic Violence after 143 murders in NSW in five years

Domestic violence claimed 143 lives in the last five years in NSW, according to new crime data. It’s sparked the Minns government to implement a six-point plan.

Domestic violence has claimed 143 lives in the last five years across the state, with the Minns government to announce a six-point plan on Thursday to combat the rising scourge of domestic violence, according to an ­exclusive new report from the NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner.

The six points outlined in the NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Strategic Plan 2024-2027 are: putting people with lived experience at the centre; enhancing oversight, monitoring and accountability; promoting safe, accessible and integrated responses; a greater focus on primary prevention; strengthening workforces and informal support networks and; supporting women’s economic safety and security.

In response, a new advisory body with victim-survivors at its centre will be created to focus on prevention measures and increasing the capacity of the state’s domestic violence (DV) support workforce.

In NSW alone over the 12 months to September 2023, there were 35,329 recorded incidents of DV-related assault and 21,789 incidents of DV-related intimidation, stalking and harassment, according to new data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).

Premier Chris Minns said efforts to end domestic violence needed to have a bipartisan approach. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Additionally in the last year there have been over 22,500 breaches of Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders.

At the same time, NSW Police recorded that sexual assaults by an intimate partner increased by 25 per cent each year in the last five years, with DV-related assaults increasing by an average of 3.2 per cent per year across the state.

The data found NSW Police gets one call every four minutes asking for help to escape family violence, with over 140,000 calls made every year.

It also revealed the terrible impact on children, with 50 per cent of all adult women subject to DV having little ones in their care.

Of the 143 DV-linked murder victims in the last five years, more than 44 per cent were killed by an intimate partner, while almost 35 per cent were killed by a child, parent or other family member.

It comes as new data revealed DV has skyrocketed 24 per cent across regional NSW.

Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said it was important to have people with lived experience of sexual and family violence at the centre of reform. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin said the new advisory body would consult heavily with victim-survivors, with a focus on their interactions with the justice system as well as how children experienced DV.

The body will advise the NSW government on future legislation and policy, including improving co-ordination between government services and community groups. A main focus will be on education as a prevention method and advising government on how to better financially protect victims of coercive control.

“Eliminating domestic and family violence is a complex challenge that will require both system reform and cultural change,” Dr Tonkin said.

Premier Chris Minns said efforts to end DV needed to have a bipartisan political approach.

 “We will work with anyone ... to address it,” he said.

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