Tara Brown inspires Opposition DV reforms proposal for offenders to be charged on the spot

DOMESTIC violence offenders will be charged and fined on the spot, under new laws proposed by the LNP Opposition in the ongoing State Election campaign.

Police officers at the scene of the murder suicide at a house in Matas Drive, Pimpama, Gold Coast. NO BYLINE PLEASE

DOMESTIC violence offenders will be charged and fined on the spot, under new laws proposed by the LNP.

Other major changes will include a new DV disclosure scheme where police will be required to give partners and family members details of perpetrator’s records if they make a complaint.

Opposition prevention of domestic violence spokeswoman Ros Bates will make the DV announcements today.

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme will be called Tara’s Law, honouring the legacy of Gold Coast mother Tara Brown who was bashed to death by her estranged partner Lionel Patea in 2015.

Gold Coast and Townsville will get a one-stop domestic violence support shop where all support services can be provided under the one roof.

The reforms address the loopholes in the system which saw the 24-year-old office worker turned away from police and fail to secure adequate protection in a shelter in the days leading up to her death.

Opposition prevention of domestic violence spokeswoman Ros Bates will today announce a five point plan which will help the Coast’s police domestic violence taskforce continue its crackdown on offenders.

Ms Bates said the reforms including the new law were designed to end up to six hours of work for police processing DV complaints.

“Under our five-point plan we will introduce a new offence for domestic violence, similar to the

amendments introduced into the British Parliament in 2015,” Ms Bates said.

“Currently there is no specific domestic violence offence in our laws by which to charge an offender.

“We will work with police and domestic violence advocates to develop a specific domestic violence offence, to better protect victims.

“An LNP Government will also amend the Evidence Act 1977 to prohibit a perpetrator from personally cross-examining a victim either in a civil or criminal matter.”

Gold Coast mother Tara Brown is remembered in the DV reforms. Photo: Instagram

Ms Bates said a Tim Nicholls-led LNP Government would introduce a trial pro-disclosure scheme in line with Clare’s Law which had worked successfully in the United Kingdom.

“The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, known as Clare’s Law, gives members of the public a formal means to inquire about the domestic violence convictions and crimes of any individual with whom they are in a relationship, or who is in a relationship with someone they know,” she said.

“By bringing in Clare’s Law, partners will take a major step forward in ensuring the safety of their families when entering into a new relationship.

“As part of our five-point plan to tackle domestic violence, magistrates also will be required to rotate through a specialist domestic violence court as a part of their professional development.“