Editorial: Is enough being done to stop scourge of domestic violence

If there is a tragedy which encapsulates the full horror of Australia’s domestic violence crisis, it’s the tragedy which struck the Clarke family in 2020. But as DV rates continue to soar, we must consider – is enough being done to stop this scourge?

Hannah Clarke with her children Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey.

If there is a tragedy which encapsulates the full horror of Australia’s domestic violence crisis, it’s the tragedy which struck the Clarke family in 2020.

But the question must be asked as DV rates continue to soar – is enough being done to stop this scourge?

This Wednesday will mark the fifth anniversary of that hideous attack on Hannah Clarke and her three children at Camp Hill.

On that February day in 2020, Hannah’s ex-partner jumped into the passenger seat of the family car, doused Hannah and their children with petrol and set them alight.

Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, perished in the blaze, while Hannah, despite suffering 97 per cent burns to her body, still managed to tell police what had happened before she died in hospital.

Hannah’s parents Lloyd and Sue, understandably, want to begin a new chapter in their lives, even if the agonising memories will never go away.

Their southeast Brisbane home will soon go on the market as they move to the Sunshine Coast.

Yet this couple have remained determined that the deaths of their daughter and grandchildren will help serve in some way to protect fellow Australians from such atrocious crimes.

Largely because of their efforts, the Queensland Parliament passed “Hannah’s Law” in early 2024 criminalising coercive control, becoming the second state in the nation to do so.

This law, which addresses patterns of behaviour designed to dominate, control and take advantage of an intimate partner, will take effect on May 26 this year and convicted offenders in Queensland could face up to 14 years imprisonment.

Lloyd and Sue Clarke are preparing to put their Brisbane home on the market. Picture: Lachie Millard

The new law is welcome, and has been vigorously supported by this newspaper.

It represents another way for police to identify behaviour which, if not addressed, could lead to the sort of horrors which Hannah had to face.

And such new laws and approaches to this problem are desperately needed.

Because the tragedy of what occurred on that February day five years ago does not appear to have slowed down the ever-escalating problem of domestic violence in this state and nation.

As Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski pointed out last year, the QPS responded to nearly 200,000 domestic and family violence incidents in the 2023-24 financial year alone.

Domestic violence accounted for 24.4 per cent of total assault offences in 2019-20.

Shockingly, in 2023-24 it accounted for 56.9 per cent of total assault offences.

As the commissioner said at the time, the figures are something we should all be ashamed of.

Yet, as the commissioner himself has pointed out, the statistics probably don’t represent the true extent of domestic violence.

Many victims will opt to suffer in silence, fearing police involvement will only lead to an escalation of attacks.

Commissioner Gollschewski is correct – we should all be ashamed of the presence of domestic violence in this state. But we should never give up the fight against it.

We, ordinary members of the Queensland community, must do all we can to ensure that those who would intimidate and attack people living under their own roof have no hiding place in our state.

We owe at least that much to Hannah Clarke and her three children.

Rate cut will set tone for election

There’s not a homeowner in Australia who isn’t hoping the Reserve Bank cuts interest rates on Tuesday – which would be the first time since 2020.

On the eve of that decision, we reveal that following years of astronomical rent hikes, Queensland tenants are being warned to expect another increase of up to 20 per cent this year in some suburbs.

This will put those already at the centre of the cost-of- living crisis in even more dire straits.

The other person hoping for an interest rate cut on Tuesday is Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The decision will have a major impact on the upcoming federal election, which will centre around the cost of living.

At the forefront of voters’ minds will be the economy and who is best able to relieve cost-of-living pressures for ordinary Australians.

Both Mr Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton say they are the ones to lead Australia back to prosperity.

Polling has the race for government neck and neck and only time will tell whether an interest rate cut is enough to get the Mr Albanese back into the lodge.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Melanie Pilling, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details are available at www.couriermail.com.au/help/contact-us

Originally published as Editorial: Is enough being done to stop scourge of domestic violence