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AAP
AAP
National
Robyn Wuth

Women's task force delivers findings

Shannon Fentiman: sexual violence in Australia remains one of the most heinous forms of abuse. (AAP)

A major review has called for sweeping changes to the way Queensland's criminal justice system handles victims of sexual assault and violence.

The final report of the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce includes 188 recommendations to improve women's and girls' experiences.

Headed by former Court of Appeal president Margaret McMurdo, the task force received more than 300 submissions including over 250 from victim-survivors of sexual assault and 19 from offenders.

Released by Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman on Friday, the report highlights the importance of reform.

It follows the findings of an inquest into the devastating murders of Brisbane woman Hannah Clarke and her three children at the hands of her husband, Rowan Baxter.

"Sexual violence remains one of the most heinous forms of violence in Australian society, with females representing an estimated 84 per cent of reported sexual assault victims," Ms Fentiman said.

"Two in five of these assaults can be linked to domestic and family violence."

Ms Fentiman said this was the "incomprehensible reality" victims face and why it was vital to remove any barriers for women coming forward to utilise the justice system.

The attorney-general said the findings and recommendations of Justice McMurdo's report would be carefully considered, including in relation to Queensland's consent laws.

"The prior work and recommendations of the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce speaks volumes," she said.

The taskforce was established in March 2021 with the first report, Hear her voice, making 89 recommendations including a new criminal offence of coercive control.

The state government has committed to introducing the legislation by the end of 2023.

Coercive control includes isolating a partner from family and friends, monitoring their movements, controlling their access to money and psychological and emotional manipulation.

That form of abuse disproportionately affects women.

The government has also allocated $363 million to expand domestic violence courts, boost support services, plan a First Nations strategy and fund perpetrator programs "to change men's behaviour".

"These are complex issues that require significant consideration to determine how best to strengthen our criminal justice system to better respond to women and girls experiencing violence," Ms Fentiman said.

The taskforce has considered possible areas of reform across prevention and community awareness, reporting, the state's service response and support for victims as they navigate the justice system and possible legislative amendments.

It also examined the impacts of resourcing to address sexual violence, over-representation of First Nations women in the justice system, community attitudes to consent laws and the general barriers faced by women when reporting crimes through to their experiences in the courts.

"We're committed to ending all forms of domestic, family and sexual violence in this state and know there is much work yet to be done," Ms Fentiman said.

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