Coronavirus: Isolation heightens risk of domestic violence

Australia is at risk of an imminent domestic violence catastrophe amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Women’s Safety NSW chief executive Hayley Foster says that frontline domestic violence services were already seeing an increase in incidents. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Australia is at risk of an imminent domestic violence catastrophe amid the coronavirus outbreak, with community groups warning of a spike in cases as isolation restrictions increase.

And members of the federal government’s domestic violence advisory body have criticised what they say is a lack of action by the government to address the emerging crisis.

The rising number of households self-isolating during the outbreak and the increasing likeli­hood of wide-scale lockdowns are expected to lead to an increase in violence, and there are concerns that restrictions associated with the virus could make it harder for women and children in danger to seek help.

There are also fears increased mental and financial stresses in households as a result of the corona­virus outbreak could lead to an increase in the severity and frequency of domestic violence.

Women’s Safety NSW chief executive Hayley Foster told The Australian that frontline domestic violence services were already seeing an increase in incidents and she feared the government was not doing enough.

“At the federal level, there’s zero leadership on this issue at the moment,” she said. “We know women and children are facing quite possibly the most dangerous time we’ve seen due to corona­virus, so for the government to be completely absent in this space, not even engaging with the agency they set up to advise them on these matters, is quite a critical failing.”

The rise in domestic violence incidents is occurring at a time when many frontline support services are having to restrict their services. Most face-to-face ser­vices have shut down, with organisations trying to instead provide services over the phone.

The isolation and lockdowns that are becoming increasingly prevalent mirror the sorts of ­“coercive control” behaviours that are increasingly recognised as a precursor to extreme domestic ­violence.

Coercive control came under increased attention following the murder of Queensland woman Hannah Clarke and her three children by her former husband, after it emerged he had gone to extreme lengths to control Clarke’s life and isolate her from her family.

Merrindahl Andrews, program manager at the federal government-funded Australian Women Against Violence Alliance, said conditions were ripe for a surge in violence.

“As we move towards more isolation in the home, there’s going to be lots of women and children who are in the home with an abuser and who will be less safe,” Dr Andrews said.

She added there had already been a documented increase in domestic violence in China’s Hubei province after the region was put into lockdown.

Dr Andrews urged the federal government to fund a nationwide advertising campaign highlighting domestic violence services and increasing funding for specialist helplines such as the 1800 Respect, the Kids Helpline and the Men’s Referral Service.