Abuse survivors to be given a voice on domestic violence

Survivors of domestic abuse are likely to be given a voice direct to policymakers.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer, former Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson AO APM, Kay McGrath OAM and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Friday. Picture: AAP

Survivors of domestic abuse are likely to be given a voice direct to policymakers, as the Queensland government considers following Victoria in establishing a council for victims and survivors.

The Weekend Australian published the powerful personal story of “Bianca”, a senior frontline public servant who has experienced coercive control and domestic abuse at the hands of her now ex-husband for more than a decade.

Bianca said the views and experiences of survivors of such trauma needed to be central to any reform of the domestic violence system in Australia.

“Victoria has a Victim Survivors Advisory Council, and I urge all other states to consider implementing something similar, to give voice to those who have a lived experience of domestic abuse,” Bianca said. “After all, we’re the people who stand to lose everything from getting this wrong.”

The Australian understands the government is considering and seeking expert advice on how best to hear and respond to the voice of survivors.

On Friday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk convened the first meeting of her Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council, announcing a summit to discuss the crisis later this month.

The Premier said all reforms were on the table, but she would not make specific announcements until after the funerals of Hannah Clarke and her three children, who were murdered by Ms Clarke’s estranged husband in Brisbane last month.

Veteran journalist Kay McGrath, the council’s chair, confirmed the government was looking “very closely” at the Victorian survivor model.

“It’s important they have a voice, absolutely, but I know that any such group requires a great deal of support to not be re-traumatised … and some of them are still managing their circumstances,” she said.