Reviews into funding and support for DFV victims and survivors in Queensland underway

Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Amanda Camm has vowed to turn the tide on domestic violence, signalling a potential overhaul of current funding and judicial measures.

Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Amanda Camm speaking at Protea Place candlelight vigil to mark Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month at Gips Restaurant, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Queensland Minister Amanda Camm has assured victims of domestic and family violence will be heard as a review into current funding for the issue is under way.

Prevention for Domestic and Family Violence Minister Amanda Camm attended a candlelight vigil on Tuesday night in Toowoomba in honour of domestic violence victims and survivors.

Her attendance comes as the community reels from multiple alleged domestic violence murders, with three children and two women alleged to have been killed in less than a year.

“I’ve spoken with the Toowoomba mayor, we will be having some briefings over the coming weeks around how, as a state government, we can support his community, work collaboratively with council, but also community leaders that want to play a role in how we can further prevent circumstances and tragedies like (those alleged),” Ms Camm said.

“Most importantly, to unite the community and to raise that really important awareness that we need a whole community approach to combat this insidious issue.”

The minister acknowledged a growing epidemic of violence in the region and across the state.

“I look at our entire state, the figures are tragic – they’re not going in the right direction,” Ms Camm said.

“For every life lost that we have, those lives that are near misses.

“What we’re seeing, sadly, is a growing demand on calls for services in circumstances that are life threatening, that the risk of violence has escalated across our communities.”

Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Minister Amanda Camm speaking at Protea Place candlelight vigil to mark Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month at Gips Restaurant, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

In 2023, more than a third of all homicides in the state were domestic and family violence related, according to the Bureau of Statistics.

Queensland crime statistics showed, across the Darling Downs, there has been a steady incline of offenders charged with contravening a domestic violence order over the last decade, with more than three times the amount of offenders charged in 2024 than in 2014.

Queensland Sentencing Council data showed, in the past five years, monetary penalties were the most common punishment for breaching a domestic violence order at 40.2 per cent while imprisonment only accounted for 18 per cent of all punishments.

If imprisoned, offenders were most commonly sentenced to between 3 and 9 months; however, the data did not distinguish whether or not that time was spent in actual custody or on parole.

Ms Camm admitted shortfalls of the current judicial system had let victim-survivors down.

“The feedback I’m getting from victims is that we have a long way to go,” she said.

“(They) are telling me that they are not satisfied with the system that is there to protect them and I think there is more that we can do.

“We as a government are reviewing all of that, and I will be working with communities on a new direction in regards to domestic and family violence and a strategy moving forward.”

“Things have to change, they haven’t changed in the last decade, we are up for that challenge and we want to make sure that a change delivers a positive impact for those in the community.”

Ms Camm assured she would work closely with the state’s Police Minister and Attorney-General in their review of current practices, highlighting bail reform as an area of interest.

“I’ve already raised with the Attorney-General, in particular, around future domestic and family violence reforms and particularly around (DVO) breaches and breaches of bail and that there needs to be serious consequences for actions, in particular, around perpetrators who continue to commit domestic and family violence,” she said

Ms Camm said further funding for the region was being reviewed ahead of the state budget alongside additional measures.

“I’m doing a review into both DV Connect as a frontline service, but also looking at our whole state’s funding envelope as we embark upon a new national partnership agreement,” she said.

“I have introduced new legislation that will give police greater powers that are about protecting victims immediately.

“We are also giving them the tools around the GPS monitoring devices and also video recorded camera evidence.”

Housing interventions will also be considered with Toowoomba advocates calling desperately for safe accommodation alternatives in the region.

“The interface that we have, particularly around refuges and transitional housing, for those fleeing domestic and family violence is critical and important,” Ms Camm said.

“Ensuring that those who can stay in their home have those safety protections, and we do have funding available for security upgrades and the like.

“We certainly think with the GPS monitoring devices it will facilitate and allow those victim survivors to be able to remain in their home and ensure that we have 24/7 eyes on perpetrators of domestic violence, so that there is some accountability.”

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald addresses the Protea Place candlelight vigil to mark Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month at Gips Restaurant, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba mayor Geoff MacDonald said council would support the community, taking an advocacy role.

“We will advocate strongly for the level of support that we feel our community deserves and needs to work through this,” he said.

“Approving housing, making sure that we have a flow of housing that will hopefully go a long way.”