Retiring Hobart magistrate Sam Mollard calls for dedicated family violence court, better support for victims

A retiring magistrate says he would like to see more done to reduce delays in family violence cases and more support offered to victims.

A retiring magistrate has called for a dedicated family violence court.

MORE needs to be done to reduce delays in family violence cases and to support victims of family violence, retiring magistrate Sam Mollard says.

Mr Mollard is retiring after 30 years on the bench, first on the North-West Coast and, since 1994, at the Hobart Magistrates Court.

“Family violence is an area where I really would like more done,” he said.

Mr Mollard has been a specialist family violence magistrate and he said it was time for a specialist family violence court, with enough time and resources to be able to substantially reduce delays people involved in family violence cases were experiencing.

“If you delay bringing a person to trial charged with a serious family violence offence, there are many circumstances or many reasons why the alleged victim will no longer wish to proceed with the matter,” he said.

“For her own safety she might disappear to the mainland and not be able to be found, she might just lose interest, she might think that she’s safer in the relationship than out of it and go back to it and refuse to give evidence for her own safety.”

Mr Mollard said couples who had resolved the problem that had led to a family violence order also deserved to have quicker access to justice.

Tasmanian Law Society president Evan Hughes welcomed the call for a dedicated family violence court.

Mr Hughes said it would need to be in addition to the existing court structure.

He said family violence cases were often complex, involved orders preventing people from coming into contact with each other and also could involve children as witnesses.

“They’re the sorts of cases that impact on people greatly,” he said.

Mr Mollard also said more could be done to support victims of family violence, either through financial support or helping them with tasks such as mowing the lawn to support them as they establish a new life for themselves.