Federal government launches new domestic violence inquiry

A new domestic violence inquiry will be set up in the wake of the murders of Hannah Clarke and her children, after the ‘abject failure’ of an earlier ­attempt. The new inquiry will include the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on domestic violence.

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A new domestic violence inquiry will be held in the wake of the murders of Hannah Clarke and her children after an earlier ­attempt was an “abject failure”.

The federal government will today announce the terms of reference for the new inquiry, which will examine family, domestic and sexual violence together with the impact of the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.

The inquiry follows howling criticism of a separate Senate standing committee on legal and constitutional affairs inquiry into domestic violence, which the Law Council of Australia had described as an “abject failure” after it failed to seek out public submissions or hold any hearings.

Hannah Clarke and her children Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey were horrifically killed by her husband and their father Rowan Baxter.

To be conducted by the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, the inquiry will cover immediate and long-term measures to prevent violence against women and their children, and improve gender equality.

It will also look at best practice and lessons learnt from international experience, the level and impact of co-ordination and accountability for services and policy responses across government and non-government agencies and business.

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How health, housing, and women’s economic independence affects the ability of women to escape domestic violence will also be explored along with “coercive control” and technology-facilitated abuse. Other terms include the efficacy of perpetrator intervention programs and support services for men to help them change their behaviour.

As for COVID-19, the committee has been asked to look at the impact of health requirements — such as staying at home — on the prevalence of domestic violence and provision of support services.

The murder of Hannah Clarke and her children shook Australia.

Minister for Women Senator Marise Payne said the challenging start to 2020 with the pandemic and associated restrictions required renewed consideration of how to reduce family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia.

“We must listen to the experiences of the sector during this unprecedented time and learn how governments, services and the community can better support women and their children, particularly when home is not a safe place to be,” she said.

Families and Social Services Minister Senator Anne Ruston said the level of family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia remained unacceptably high.

“It is truly devastating that women and children continue to be killed by the people who are supposed to care for and protect them,” she said.

“The more light we can shine on this scourge, the better.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of domestic, family or sexual violence contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) 1800respect.org.au or MensLine Australia (1300 789 978) mensline.org.au.

Originally published as Federal government launches new domestic violence inquiry