Government fails to meet own deadline for DV reform among police

Key recommendations from a landmark commission of inquiry into how Queensland Police respond to domestic and family violence have not been enacted six months on, it can be revealed.

• DV shelter: State’s biggest opened

Key recommendations from a landmark commission of inquiry into how Queensland Police respond to domestic and family violence have not been enacted six months on.

The six month-long inquiry last year heard harrowing evidence of sexism, racism and misogyny within the force, with distressing reports of officers treating victims poorly and harassing their colleagues.

In November Judge Deborah Richards handed down the A Call for Change report with 78 recommendations, including more than 20 recommendations given a six-month deadline.

Queensland Police did not answer The Courier-Mail’s questions on how many of the recommendations had been introduced within the time frame.

Special Co-ordinator, Police and Emergency Services Reform Steve Gollschewski –- who was appointed to the role following the inquiry ­- said work was ongoing to address the recommendations, which involved collaboration between QPS, Department of Justice and Attorney-General, the Crime and Corruption Commission and the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Commission.

Queensland Deputy police commissioner, Steve Gollschewski talking at a press conference on Friday 14 October 2022. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Agencies have undertaken significant work to consider the intent of the recommendations and to define how intended outcomes will be delivered,” he said.

But Mr Gollschewski also said some of the recommendations “require more complex solutions”, with QPS working with the Independent Implementation Supervisor and the Women’s Safety Criminal Justice Ministerial and Directors’ General Steering Committee to develop “tangible and concrete outcomes which align with the Government intent”.

“Demand modelling has implications on the delivery of other recommendations and is being prioritised to allow the identification and allocation of specialised DFV resources,” he said.

Changes which had been made included requiring officers attending domestic and family violence occurrences to receive feedback on a sample of their body-worn camera footage and members in designated roles to undertake specialist five-day domestic and family violence training.

Police had also established an additional complaint code explicitly for allegations of racism against QPS officers, and enacted a review of the support services provided to people impacted by domestic and family violence.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said Queenslanders want to see real reform to tackle the scourge of domestic violence in our communities.

“Six months on from their ‘watershed’ announcement it appears the Government has failed to meet their own six-month deadlines set out in the Royal Commission,” he said.

“We must continue to push for change so the bravery of whistleblowers who courageously told their stories isn’t in vain.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said at the time the report was handed down – while committing $100m to enact the recommendations - it was a defining moment for the QPS.

Originally published as Government fails to meet own deadline for DV reform among police