The Victorian system of dealing with victims and perpetrators of family violence is broken, and the state government should be prepared to acknowledge that fact, the state’s premier, Daniel Andrews, said.
Making public the government’s 173-page submission to the royal commission on family violence on Monday, Andrews told reporters it was a “frank document” that “doesn’t for a moment pretend the system is any better than it is”.
“In fact it calls the system out for the many women and children that have been betrayed because the services weren’t there, the law wasn’t right, the courts weren’t there, [or] the police didn’t have the power and resources they needed,” he said.
“There’s no sugar-coating this – we need to do more, we need to do better. More of the same policy will lead to more of the same tragedy.”
In its submission, the government has asked the commission to consider whether a dangerous partner register may improve the safety of victims, and whether making family violence a specific crime could help increase perpetrator accountability.
The document does not expand on how such a register might work, but it comes as the New South Wales government considers a plan to allow parents of women to request information from police about the potentially violent pasts of partners.
Currently, domestic and family violence is not a specific criminal offence in Australia, with crimes related to family violence falling under other charges, like assault.
Andrews also said improving outcomes for women should begin with examining the attitudes in society towards them.
“Many men in our state and nation have a poor attitude towards women,” he said.
The government’s submission reads: “There is now widespread understanding that racist attitudes can lead to racially motivated violence and that homophobic attitudes can lead to gay hate crimes.
“We must now also educate that sexist behaviour and gender inequality, if unaddressed, lead to sexual assault and family violence.”
Services targeting perpetrators and victims should also become better coordinated, the submission suggests.
Victorian Council of Social Service chief-executive Emma King said the government’s recommendations on improving safety and holding perpetrators to account, including through stronger criminal justice responses, were important.
“But we also need a societal shift in preventing family violence that promotes a shared responsibility across the entire community and the whole of government,” she said.
“Many people experiencing or perpetrating family violence will first come to the attention of services such as schools, health services and community organisations.
“Because these services have high levels of participation across the community, they provide a great opportunity to engage families at risk of or experiencing violence, and link them to support.”
Domestic Violence Victoria chief executive Fiona McCormack said by educating everyone to notice signs of family violence, victims may receive support faster and perpetrators could be held to account sooner.
“Many women don’t recognise they’re in a violent relationship until it reaches crisis point,” she said.
“So it would be great to educate people that if someone’s partner is resistant to them socialising independently, or to their partner having their own bank account or living an independent life, that these are early warning signs.
“I don’t think that’s always understood by women in abusive relationships or the people around her who might then be able to support her to understand not everything is at it seems.”
Public royal commission hearings will begin in July and will include local stakeholders, experts and representatives from government departments.
The state Labor government has said it will implement all of the commission’s recommendations.
