Cobram community's recommendations to council about family violence

The Cobram community has sent a list of recommendations to council following an 177 per cent increase in family violence order breaches from 2022 to 2023. 

Breaches in family violence orders in the town where Emma Bates was allegedly killed increased by 177 per cent between 2022 and 2023, and locals are have now sent a list of recommendations to help address the issue. 

The DV crisis reached a boiling point in recent months with the alleged killing of the Cobram woman.

The 49-year-old’s body was found on the floor of her Campbell Rd home on April 23 with significant head and upper body injuries.

Emma Bates, 49, was found dead her in Cobram home. Picture: Supplied

John Torney – who was found not guilty of the murder of two-year-old Nikki Francis Coslovich at Mildura in 2015 – has been charged with intentionally cause injury, reckless cause injury, aggravated assault of a female and unlawful assault.

Now, the community has banded together, writing a list of recommendations to the Moira Shire Council.

The 'immediate response' focus is on monitoring systems, where it is recommended that violent offenders are monitored through an ankle bracelet or a smartphone monitoring app.

The petition also speaks about shifting the focus of accountability from the victim to the perpetrator.

They also suggest that local police stations in Moira Shire - Yarrawonga, Cobram, Numurkah and Nathalia be staffed around the clock, while one station should be upgraded to have holding cells.

From a legal perspective, the petition suggests that the law simplify the process for intervention orders, to reduce wait times that can further increase risk for the victim. 

The entire list of recommendations can be seen in this petition. 

According to the latest criminal incidents figures from the Crime Statistics Agency, the LGA of Moira — where Cobram is based — saw the biggest year-on-year increase in the Goulburn Valley at 65 per cent.

But its figures over the past decade were much worse, with breaches increasing by almost 334 per cent over 10 years.

Family violence order breaches in the Goulburn Valley

It comes as statewide statistics show a family violence or intervention order is breached every 20 minutes.

Across the Goulburn Valley region, family violence order breaches grew by more than 131 per cent over the past decade.

Family violence survivor Ashleigh Ladgrove last weekend organising a 400-strong rally in Cobram alongside not-for-profit group What You Were Wearing.

One rally speaker, she said, gave an impassioned speech about a man who had “never spent a day in jail or faced serious repercussions” for what he had allegedly done to her.

Cobram residents attend a rally against violence against women. Picture: Jessica Sims Photography

Speaking to the Herald Sun, Ms Ladgrove said regional women were at a particular disadvantage when it came to domestic violence and the federal government’s $5000 payment to escape violence was not enough.

“(In a rural area) if a woman has to leave, they have to relocate,” she said.

“You’re talking about pulling children from schools, pulling them from workplaces.

“There’s the cost of that … Fuel, flight fares … They are already starting on the back foot.”

She also said the language used to talk about domestic violence needed to change.

“The issue of family violence needs to be addressed, we need to shift the language to men’s violence, we’ll get a better truth telling,” Ms Ladgrove said.

The Cobram community is planning to write a list of recommendations to local leaders after the weekend’s rally.

Northern Victoria MP Wendy Lovell told the Herald Sun the violence against women problem was amplified in the “little melting pots” of rural towns.

“The small fish bowl sort of thing, there’s nowhere for them (the victim) to escape… It is very easy for the perpetrator to find the victim again,” the Opposition MP said.

Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell. Picture: Michael DiFabrizio

Ms Lovell, who grew up in Shepparton, noted the family violence rate per 100,000 was three times higher in the regional city than in metropolitan areas.

She also said some rural towns, including Cobram, Tatura and Mooroopna, didn’t have around the clock police.

An incident that occurred at 1am in Cobram, for example, would be reported to the nearest 24/7 station in Shepparton at least 25 minutes away.

“It takes a long time for a police officer to get there (if there has been an incident),” she said.

Moira Shire chair of administrators John Tanner told the Herald Sun men needed to “step up”.

“Importantly, going forward we need to ensure that we advocate for a lot more support for women that are exposed in any way to domestic violence, and certainly women in general,” Mr Tanner said.

Cobram residents attend a rally against violence against women. Picture: Supplied.

He said the council was sending its “deepest condolences” to family and community members affected by Ms Bates’ death.

“While we hear about this happening in other municipalities and other states, we are not immune to this and we are affected by this terrible tragedy,” he said.

Originally published as Cobram FVO breaches almost triple year on year