Footnotes

Executive Summary

[1]        World Health Organisation, Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence, Executive Summary, 2013.

[2]        Australian Government, Australian Institute of Criminology, Homicide in Australia: 2008-09 to 2009-10 National Homicide Monitoring Program annual report, 2013, p. 18.

[3]        730, 'Thirty-one women killed in Australia in 15 weeks renews call for action', 13 April 2015.

[4]        Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, Violence against women: key statistics.

[5]        Australian Government, Australian Institute  of Health and Welfare, Specialist homelessness services 2012-13, 2013, p. 19.

[6]        VicHealth, The health costs of violence, Measuring the burden of disease caused by intimate partner violence, A summary of findings, 2004, p.8.

[7]        The Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse, The University of New South Wales, The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children: A Literature Review, August 2011,

[8]        National Council, The Cost of Violence against Women and their Children, March 2009, p. 34; see also Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 2; Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 2.

Chapter 1

[1]        Journals of the Senate, No. 37 – 26 June 2014, p. 1018.

[2]        Journals of the Senate, No. 46 – 26 August 2014, p. 1283.

[3]        Journals of the Senate, No. 79 – 2 March 2015, p. 2203.

[4]        Submission 68, pp 1-2.

[5]        Mr Paul Mischefski, Vice-President of Men's Wellbeing Queensland, Submission 87, 87, p. 5. See also chapter 4, paragraph 4.8.

[6]        Submission 53¸ p 11.

[7]        Submission 4, p.17.

[8]        Submission 35, p.1. See also Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia, Submission 54¸ pp 7-9.

[9]        Submission 51, p. 11. See also Australian Women Against Violence Alliance, Submission 62¸ p. 14.

[10]      Submission 68, p. 3.

Chapter 2

[1]        Submission 141, p. 11 (Attachment A). Note: Our Watch was known as the Foundation to Prevent Violence against Women and their Children prior to 5 September 2014. This report uses Our Watch throughout to reflect the updated name – although its submission is published under the Foundation's name on the committee's website.

[2]        The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021, (March 2009), p. 36.

[3]        VicHealth, The health costs of violence: measuring the burden of disease caused by intimate partner violence. A summary of findings, 2004, p. 8, available at: www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/media-and-resources/publications/the-health-costs-of-violence (accessed 12 January 2015). See also Women with Disabilities, Submission 50, p. 13; Women's Health Victoria, Submission 60, p. 3; White Ribbon Australia, Submission 94, p. 2. See also Dr Mayet Costello, Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 2.

[4]        Submission 4, p. 13.

[5]        The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009), p. 39.

[6]        The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009), p. 40.

[7]        Women's Centre for Health Matters, Submission 101, p. 6.

[8]        The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009), p. 38.

[9]        Submission 50, p. 13.

[10]      Submission 100, p. 5.

[11]      See, for example, Family Planning NSW, Submission 18, p. 5; Women's Health West, Submission 21, p. 10; Women's Centre for Health Matters, Submission 101, p. 6.

[12]      Submission 34, p. 3.

[13]      Reproductive coercion refers to a range of male partner pregnancy-controlling behaviours [including]: birth control sabotage such as throwing away contraception and the intentional breakage of condoms; forced sex; refusal by their partner to use condoms; being threatened with consequences if they use birth control; and prevention from obtaining birth control.

[14]      Submission 34, p. 4.

[15]      Submission 34, p. 6.

[16]      Submission 16, pp 5-6.

[17]      Submission 92, p. 3.

[18]      Submission 92, p. 6.

[19]      Submission 90, p. 6.

[20]      Submission 90, p. 5.

[21]      Submission 4, p. 13. See also Save the Children, Submission 90, pp 5-6.

[22]      Submission 92, p. 6.

[23]      Submission 123, p. 9.

[24]      Submission 40, p. 3.

[25]      Submission 40, p. 3.

[26]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 35.

[27]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 14.

[28]      Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, ‘New online tool empowering women to take control of finances’, Media Release, 25 May 2014.

[29]      Minister for Social Services, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, ‘Microfinance investment to help transition Australians from welfare to work’, Media Release, 11 June 2015.

[30]      NSW Government, Submission 140, Attachment 1, p. 26.

[31]      See, for example, ACTU, Submission 46, p. 4.

[32]      Ms Veronica Black, Finance Sector Union of Australia, Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 48.

[33]      Committee Hansard, 6 November 2014, p. 41.

[34]      Submission 46, p. 5.

[35]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, pp 49-50.

[36]      Submission 62, pp 17-18.

[37]      Submission 141, pp 12-13.

[38]      The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009), p. 45.

[39]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, pp 4-5. Note: affordable housing and homelessness is discussed further in chapter 10.

[40]      Submission 23, p. 13. The study referenced by One in Three was commissioned and published by the Men's Advisory Network (MAN) and undertaken by three researchers from the Edith Cowan University's Psychology Department. It was based on a sample group of 15 self-identified male victims of domestic and family violence, as well as five 'significant people in the lives of such men' and eight providers of services to male victims. See Emily Tilbrook, Alfred Allan and Greg Dear, Intimate Partner Abuse of Men (2010).

[41]      Submission 23, p. 13.

[42]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, pp 47-48.

[43]      National Council, The Cost of Violence against Women and their Children, March 2009, p. 34; see also Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 2.

[44]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 2.

[45]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 51.

[46]      Submission 4, p. 13. The Australian Women's Health Network states that 'presenteeism' is a term which describes 'distraction, lack of concentration and underperformance at work. In other words being physically present at work but in all other ways absent'.

Chapter 3

[1]        Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 4.

[2]        Department of Social Services, Submission 57, p. 1.

[3]        Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), Background, p. 4.

[4]        Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 3.

[5]        Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 3.

[6]        The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009).

[7]        The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women Immediate Government Actions April 2009, pp 4-5.

[8]        Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), Foreword.

[9]        Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 3.

[10]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 47.

[11]      Premier of Queensland, Domestic violence taskforce to consult Queenslanders, Media Release, 10 September 2015; see also www.qld.gov.au/community/getting-support-health-social-issue/dfv-taskforce/ (accessed 27 March 2015)

[12]      Premier of Victoria, Royal Commission into Family Violence, Media Release, 19 January 2015.

[13]      See Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, the Hon Fiona Richardson MP, at www.vic.gov.au/contactsandservices/directory/?ea0_lfz149_120.&roleWithSubordinates&6368c918-b4ca-4bf7-b2a7-0544380ebe81 (accessed 27 March 2015)

[14]      See www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/V3ListCurrentMinisters (accessed 7 April 2015)

[15]      Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Tony Abbott MP, and the Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, 'COAG agenda to address ending violence against women', Media Release, 28 January 2015.

[16]      Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Tony Abbott MP and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, 'COAG agenda to address ending violence against women', Media Release, 28 January 2015. On 14 May 2015, the full membership of the advisory panel was announced. See Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Tony Abbott MP and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, 'Advisory Panel Announced to Reduce Violence Against Women', 14 May 2015.

[17]      COAG, Special Meeting Communique, 23 July 2015.

[18]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 12.

[19]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 12.

[20]      Formerly the Foundation to Prevent Violence against Women and their Children.

[21]      An organisation to improve the collection and sharing of data about domestic and family violence.

[22]      A social marketing campaign promoting respectful relationships to young people.

[23]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 4.

[24]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 3.

[25]      Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott MP, 'Addressing Violence Against Women and their Children', Media Release, 27 June 2014. However, Ms Therese Sands, Co-Chief Executive Officer, People With Disability Australia, representing the Australian Cross Disability Alliance, told the committee that many women with disability feel they are treated differently by some domestic and family violence services for women in general, including 1800-RESPECT. For example, she commented that a common response to women with disabilities calling
1800-RESPECT was that they are referred to Women with Disabilities Australia, which is not funded to provide a crisis response. See Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 10.

[26]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 32.

[27]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 32.

[28]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 2 (National Implementation Plan for the First Action Plan), p. 8.

[29]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 2 (National Implementation Plan for the First Action Plan), p. 9.

[30]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 2 (National Implementation Plan for the First Action Plan), p. 9, p. 34.

[31]      Minister for Social Services, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, ‘Annual progress report highlights achievements to address violence against women’, Joint Media Release, 29 June 2015.

[32]      See National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022: Progress Report to the Council of Australian Governments 2010-2022 at www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/05_2013/final_edited_report_edit.pdf (accessed 20 April 2015).

[33]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 3 (Progress Review of the First Action Plan),p. 1.

[34]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 2 (National Implementation Plan for the First Action Plan), p. 9, p. 34.

[35]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 4 (Evaluation Plan), p. 5.

[36]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 2.

[37]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 2.

[38]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 9.

[39]      Committee Hansard, 4 November, p. 40.

[40]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 20.

[41]      Submission 67, p. 2.

[42]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 28.

[43]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 18.

[44]      Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 12.

[45]      Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, pp 11-12.

[46]      Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 12.

[47]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 25.

[48]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 54.

[49]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 54.

[50]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 55.

[51]      AHRC, Australian study tour report - Visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women (2012) at www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/australian-study-tour-report-visit-un-special-rapporteur-violence-against-women (accessed 21 July 2014).

[52]      Ms Julie Oberin, Chairperson, AWAVA, Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 23; Ms Sophie Hardefeldt, Program Manager, AWAVA, Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 22; Ms Liz Snell, Law Reform and Policy Coordinator, Women's Legal Services New South Wales and Women's Legal Services Australia, Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 41.

[53]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 55.

[54]      Minister for Social Services, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, ‘Annual progress report highlights achievements to address violence against women’, Joint Media Release, 29 June 2015.

[55]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 7. See also Ms Julie Oberin, Chairperson, AWAVA, Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 23.

[56]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 9.

[57]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 9.

[58]      See www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/women/programs-services/reducing-violence/the-national-plan-to-reduce-violence-against-women-and-their-children-2010-2022 (accessed 8 April 2015).

Chapter 4

[1]        See, for example, Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, Submission 68, p. 1; ACT Domestic Violence Prevention Council, Submission 100, p. 3; Women's Centre for Health Matters, Submission 101¸ p. 3. Women's Health West described the Personal Safety Survey as the 'primary data source' on the prevalence of violence against women in Australia, Submission 21, p. 5. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has conducted two Personal Safety Surveys, the first from August to December 2005 and a second from February to December 2012.

[2]        ABS, Personal Safety Survey, 2012.

[3]        'Partner' is used to describe the person the respondent lives with, or lived with at some point, in a married or de facto relationship. 'Partner violence' refers to any incident of sexual assault, sexual threat, physical assault or physical threat by a current and/or previous partner, but does not include violence by a 'boyfriend/girlfriend or date'.

[4]        Australian Bureau of Statistics, Personal Safety Survey, 2012.

[5]        ABS, Personal Safety Survey, 2012.

[6]        ABS, Personal Safety Survey, 2012.

[7]        For the purposes of the survey 'emotional abuse' occurred when a person is subjected to certain behaviours of actions that are aimed at preventing or controlling their behaviour with the intent to cause them emotional harm or fear. These behaviours are characterised in nature by their intent to manipulate, control, isolate or intimidate the person they are aimed at. They are generally repeated behaviours and include psychological, social, economic and verbal abuse.

[8]        ABS, Personal Safety Survey, 2012.

[9]        Submission 87, p. 5. See also One in Three Campaign, Submission 23, p. 7.

[10]      Submission 50, p. 8.

[11]      Submission 97, p. 2. See also Centre for Advocacy, Support and Education for Refugees (CASE for Refugees), Submission 29, p. 6.

[12]      Submission 141, p. 25.

[13]      Submission 141, p. 25. The National Community Attitudes Survey (NCAS) is discussed later in this chapter.

[14]      See, for example, Australian Women Against Violence Alliance, Submission 62, p. 8; Submission 129, p. 9.

[15]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 2 (National Implementation Plan for the First Action Plan), p. 26.

[16]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 2 (National Implementation Plan for the First Action Plan), p. 26.

[17]      See Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, Submission 123, p. 2, citing World Health Organisation (WHO), Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence (2013).

[18]      See Office of the Public Advocate, Submission 27, Attachment 2, p. 29, citing J Mouzos, and T Makkai, Women's Experiences of Male Violence: Findings From the Australian Component of the International Violence Against Women Survey, Canberra, Australian Institute of Criminology (2004). See also Youth Affairs Council of South Australia, Submission 72, pp 4-5, which noted that the International Violence Against Women Survey uses a broader definition of domestic violence that the ABS's Personal Safety Survey; Domestic Violence Victoria, Submission 124, p. 3; Our Watch (Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children), Submission 141, p. 12.

[19]      Submission 120, pp 7-8, citing research by the National Homicide Monitoring Program, Australian Institute of Criminology. See also Youth Affairs Council of South Australia, Submission 72, p. 6; Our Watch (Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children), Submission 141, p. 12; White Ribbon Australia, Submission 94, p. 9.

[20]      These 479 incidents involved 511 victims and 532 offenders.

[21]      Australian Institute of Criminology, Homicide in Australia: 2010-11 to 2011-12: National Homicide Monitoring Program report, AIC Reports, Monitoring Reports 23 (2015), p. vi.

[22]      Australian Institute of Criminology, Homicide in Australia: 2010-11 to 2011-12: National Homicide Monitoring Program report, AIC Reports, Monitoring Reports 23 (2015), p. 16.

[23]      Victoria Police, Submission 92, p. 3.

[24]      Submission 89, p. 16.

[25]      Submission 23, p. 10.

[26]      Submission 23, p. 8.

[27]      Submission 140, Attachment 1, p. 7.

[28]      Submission 92, p. 4.

[29]      See Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 5.

[30]      Submission 26, p. 4. See also Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service, Submission 39, p. 8; Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 3 (Progress Review of the First Action Plan), pp 17-18.

[31]      Submission 141, p. 14.

[32]      Submission 21, p. 6. See also Beryl Women, Submission 45, p. 6; Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS), Submission 68, pp 2-3; Queensland Domestic Violence Network, Submission 88, p. 7.

[33]      Office of the Public Advocate, Submission 27, Attachment 1, (Voices Against Violence, Paper One: Summary Report and Recommendations), p. 15. See also University of Melbourne, Submission 120, p. 21.

[34]      Submission 124, pp 7-8.

[35]      Submission 142, p. 13. Emphasis in original.

[36]      Submission 142, p. 13. See also Domestic Violence Victoria, Submission 124, p. 8.

[37]      Submission 54, p. 5.

[38]      Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 8.

[39]      Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 8.

[40]      See, for example, Women's Health West, Submission 21, p. 8; Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia, Submission 54, p. 6; Multicultural Centre for Women's Health, Submission 97, p. 2.

[41]      Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia, Submission 54, p. 6. See also Centre for Advocacy, Support and Education for Refugees (CASE for Refugees), Submission 29, p. 6; Multicultural Centre for Women's Health, Submission 97, p. 2.

[42]      Submission 54, p. 6.

[43]      Submission 21, p. 8. See also Our Watch (Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children), Submission 141, p. 15.

[44]      Submission 88, p. 23.

[45]      Relationships Australia, Submission 131, p. 5. See also Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service Victoria, who refer to women without permanent residency as a growing cohort of women accessing their services, Submission 109, p. 4.

[46]      Submission 138, p. 6.

[47]      Minister for Social Services, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services, Senator the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, ‘National roundtable to discuss violence against culturally diverse women’, Joint Media Release, 7 August 2015.

[48]      VicHealth, Australians' attitudes to violence against women: Findings from the 2013 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (September 2014), p. 6.

[49]      VicHealth, Australians' attitudes to violence against women: Findings from the 2013 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (September 2014), p. 1.

[50]      VicHealth, Australians' attitudes to violence against women: Findings from the 2013 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (September 2014), p. 9.

[51]      VicHealth, Australians' attitudes to violence against women: Findings from the 2013 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (September 2014), p. 9.

[52]      VicHealth, Australians' attitudes to violence against women: Findings from the 2013 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (September 2014), p. 9.

[53]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 45.

[54]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, p. 1.

Chapter 5

[1]        The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009), p. 47.

[2]        Submission 101, p. 4. See also Aboriginal Family Law Services (WA), Submission 48, pp 2- 3.

[3]        See Centre for Advocacy, Support and Education for Refugees (CASE for Refugees), Submission 29, p. 6; Women with Disabilities Victoria, Submission 50, p. 8; Multicultural Centre for Women's Health, Submission 97, p. 2; Our Watch (Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children), Submission 141, p. 25.

[4]        The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009), p. 48.

[5]        Submission 60, p. 3.

[6]        Submission 48, p. 3.

[7]        The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009), p. 47.

[8]        White Ribbon Australia, Submission 94, Attachment 1, p. 4. See also Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Defining the Data Challenge: Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence, Australia 2013: A Conceptual Data Framework, p. 7 which, in discussing the impacts of domestic violence states 'given that a substantial proportion of family and domestic violence incidents go unreported, it is difficult to quantify the true extent of these impacts'.

[9]        Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 16.

[10]      Submission 62, p. 8. See also, Aboriginal Family Law Services (WA), Submission 48, p. 4.

[11]      Submission 129, p. 9.

[12]      ABS, Defining the Data Challenge: Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence, Australia 2013: A Conceptual Data Framework, p. 16.

[13]      ABS, Defining the Data Challenge: Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence, Australia 2013: A Conceptual Data Framework, p. 16.

[14]      See Office of the Public Advocate, Submission 27, Attachment 2 (Voices Against Violence, Paper Two: Current Issus in Understanding and Responding to Violence against Women with Disabilities, p. 37; Destroy the Joint, Submission 96, p. 12.

[15]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), pp 45-46.

[16]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 18.

[17]      The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009), p. 48.

[18]      The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (March 2009), p. 41.

[19]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 15.

[20]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 2 (National Implementation Plan for the First Action Plan), p. 26.

[21]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 40.

[22]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 40.

[23]      Progress Review of the Fist Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022, May 2014, p. 3.

[24]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 2 (National Implementation Plan for the First Action Plan), p. 27.

[25]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 46.

[26]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 12.

[27]      Submission 57, p. 1.

[28]      Submission 96, p. 13. See also, Women's Health Victoria, Submission 60, p. 3; Save the Children, Submission 90, p. 12; Our Watch (Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children), Submission 141, p. 25.

[29]      Submission 128, p. 11.

[30]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 7.

[31]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 19.

[32]      Our Watch (Foundation the Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children), Submission 141, p. 25.

[33]      See, for example, Redfern Legal Centre, Submission 129, p. 9.

[34]      Submission 54, p. 13.

[35]      Submission 116, p. 9.

[36]      Women's Centre for Health Matters, Submission 101, p. 4.

[37]      Submission 105, p. 10.

[38]      Submission 96, p. 14.

[39]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 39.

[40]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), pp 39-40.

[41]      Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS), Submission 68, p. 1. Although ANROWS was launched in May 2014, work commenced to establish the organisation in early 2013.

[42]      Submission 68, p. 1.

[43]      Department of Social Services, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 44.

[44]      Department of Social Services, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 45.

[45]      Department of Social Services, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 45.

[46]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 1.

[47]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 2.

[48]      Submission 68, p. 5

[49]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 1.

[50]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, pp 5-6. Dr Costello noted that her reference to 'socially mandated' intervention means 'men who engage in perpetrator programs because their partners have said they will leave them if they do not, they have been told they are bad fathers or that sort of stuff. They have a social reason to want to engage'.

[51]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 5.

[52]      Submission 68, p. 5. See also, Eastern Metropolitan Region and Regional Family Violence Partnership, Submission 99, p. 10.

[53]      Submission 135, p. 2. See also, Women's Health Victoria, Submission 60, p. 3; Australian Human Rights Commission, Submission 133, p. 2.

[54]      Submission 117, p. 3.

[55]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 21.

[56]      Multicultural Centre for Women's Health, Submission 97, p. 4.

[57]      Submission 50, p. 12. See also Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, Submission 123, p. 4

[58]      Submission 101, p. 9.

[59]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 15.

[60]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), pp 39-40.

Chapter 6

[1]        Submission 4, p. 16.

[2]        Submission 124¸ p. 10.

[3]        Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 4. 

[4]        Submission 2, p. 3.

[5]        Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 9. 

[6]        The public health model uses three levels to place strategies on a continuum. Primary prevention refers to strategies aimed at preventing violence before it occurs, including whole-of-population strategies. Secondary prevention or early intervention, refers to programs that involve early detection of risk or manifestations of the problem. For domestic violence it refers to interventions that target individuals or population sub-groups showing early signs of becoming a victim of violence, as well as individuals engaging in violent behaviour or at risk of developing violent behaviours in the future. Tertiary prevention or response or intervention, refers to responses set in motion after the violence has occurred. They aim to reduce the consequences and effects and prevent recurrence. See Inara Walden and Liz Wall, 'Reflecting on primary prevention of violence against women, the public health approach'. Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, ACSSA Issues, No 19 (2014), pp 5-6. 

[7]        Our Watch (Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children), Submission 141, p. 5.

[8]        Submission 4, p. 7.

[9]        Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 19.

[10]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 2.

[11]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 33.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 22.

[13]      Australian Women's Health Network, Submission 4, p. 17.

[14]      Australian Women's Health Network, Submission 4, p. 7.

[15]      Submission 133, pp 5-6.

[16]      Submission 133, p. 2.

[17]      See Chapter 4, 4.38.

[18]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 33.

[19]      Submission 129, p. 14.

[20]      Second Action Plan 2013-2016, p. 25.

[21]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 4.

[22]      ANROWS, Submission 68, p. 4.

[23]      Our Watch (Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children), Submission 141, p. 8.

[24]      Submission 140, Attachment 1, p. 37.

[25]      Submission 129, p. 6.

[26]      The National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021 (2009), p. 5.

[27]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 12.

[28]      Outcome 1: Communities are free from violence; Outcome 2: Relationships are respectful; Outcome 3: Indigenous communities area strengthened; Outcome 4: Services meet the needs of women and their children experiencing violence; Outcome 5: Justice responses are effective; Outcome 6: Perpetrators stop the violence and are held to account.

[29]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 3 (Progress Review of the First Action Plan), p. 5.

[30]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 33.

[31]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 33. See also http://nomore.org/ (accessed 20 April 2015)

[32]      ANROWS, Submission 68, p. 4.

[33]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 2.

[34]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 3.

[35]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 3 (Progress Review of the First Action Plan), p. 6.

[36]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 3 (Progress Review of the First Action Plan), p. 6.

[37]      See www.whiteribbon.org.au/what-is-white-ribbon (accessed 23 January 2015).

[38]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 9.

[39]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 9.

[40]      White Ribbon, Submission 94, p. 7. White Ribbon outlined their other work programs in this submission and appearance before the committee, see Ms Libby Davies and Dr Christina Jarron, Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014 pp 9-16.

[41]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 4.

[42]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 3 (Progress Review of the First Action Plan), p. 6.

[43]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 16.

[44]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 16.

[45]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 20.

[46]      Submission 97, p. 3.

[47]      Submission 97, p. 3.

[48]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 25.

[49]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 21.

[50]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 21.

[51]      Submission 141, p. 6.

[52]      Submission 140, p. 7.

[53]      Australian Women's Health Network, Submission 4, p. 7.

[54]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 17.

[55]      See Our Watch website: www.ourwatch.org.au/What-We-Do-(1)/National-Primary-Prevention-Framework (accessed 27 January 2015)

[56]      Submission 123, p. 10.

[57]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 2.

[58]      See Our Watch website: www.ourwatch.org.au/What-We-Do-(1)/National-Primary-Prevention-Framework (accessed 27 January 2015)

[59]      Submission 94, pp 6-7.

[60]      Submission 33, p. 5.

[61]      Submission 4, p. 23.

[62]      Submission 21, p. 6.

[63]      Submission 20, p. 10.

[64]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 3. See also Women's Health in the North, Submission 33, p. 5.

[65]      COAG Communique, 17 April 2015, pp 1-2.  See also Ms Liza Carroll, Associate Secretary, Domestic Policy, Office for Women, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ms Cate McKenzie, Principal Adviser, Department of Social Services, Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, pp 20-22.

[66]      COAG, Special Meeting Communique, 23 July 2015.

[67]      COAG, Special Meeting Communique, 23 July 2015.

[68]      Commonwealth Budget 2015-16, Budget Paper 2: Expense Measures, p. 163. See also Ms Rosie Batty, Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 4.

[69]      See committee discussion with PM&C, Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, pp 21-22.

Chapter 7 - Early intervention

[1]        For example, to improve identification of and responses to victims of domestic violence in NSW Health Services there is routine domestic violence screening for all women presenting to antenatal and early childhood health services, as well as for women aged 16 years or over presenting to mental health and alcohol and other drugs services. This is an early intervention strategy that also plays a role in prevention of domestic violence by providing information about domestic violence to at risk groups.

[2]        Early intervention strategies are included in jurisdictional plans to support the National Plan.

[3]        Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan),p. 29.

[4]        Submission 25, p. 8.

[5]        Submission 33, p. 5.

[6]        Women's Health in the North, Submission 33, p. 5.

[7]        Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 35.

[8]        Submission 25, p. 2.

[9]        Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 18. Mr Morrison was referring to the document tabled by APONT at the Darwin hearing of the committee, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Closing the Gap Clearinghouse: What works to overcome Indigenous disadvantage: Key gaps in the evidence 2011-12 (2013).

[10]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 12.

[11]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 5.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 14. See also Law Society Northern Territory, Submission 17, p. 2.

[13]      Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria, Submission 73, p. 12.

[14]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 14.

[15]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 14.

[16]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 8.

[17]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, pp 1-2.

[18]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 10.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 14.

[20]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 14.

[21]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, p. 1.

[22]      Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, National Research Agenda to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children (May 2014), p. 8.

[23]      Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, National Research Agenda to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, May 2014, p. 24.

[24]      National Implementation Plan for the First Action Plan 2010-2013, p. 24.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 17.

[26]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 1.

[27]      Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Tony Abbott MP, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, 'COAG agenda to address ending violence against women', Media Release, 28 January 2015.

[28]      Submission 123, Attachment 1, p. 11.

[29]      Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, Submission 123, Attachment 1, p. 11. See also No to Violence's outline of the success of the UK's Project Mirabal perpetrator intervention programs at http://ntv.org.au/wp-content/uploads/150210-project-mirabal-aus.pdf (accessed 21 April 2015).

[30]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 20.

[31]      Submission 25, p. 5.

[32]      Submission 88, p. 21.

[33]      Committee Hansard, 6 November 2014, p. 45.

[34]      Centre for Innovative Justice, RMIT University, Opportunities for Early Intervention: bringing perpetrators of family violence into view, March 2015.

[35]      Centre for Innovative Justice, RMIT University, Opportunities for early Intervention: bringing perpetrators of family violence into view, March 2015, p. 5.

[36]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 1.

[37]      Australian Women's Health Network, Submission 4, p. 13. See also Women's Health West, Submission 21, pp 17-18.

[38]      Submission 13, p.2.

[39]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 32.

[40]      Submission 45, p. 9.

[41]      Submission 4, pp 1-2.

[42]      See the National Plan's Outcome 6 in Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 33.

[43]      Centre for Innovative Justice, RMIT University, Opportunities for Early Intervention: bringing perpetrators of family violence into view, March 2015.

[44]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p.. 8.

Chapter 8

[1]        Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 20.

[2]        Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 6.

[3]        Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 9.

[4]        Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, pp 16-17.

[5]        Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, pp 16-17. At the 11 June 2015 hearing, Ms Rosie Batty mentioned the effectiveness of the model in use in South Australia (Multi-Agency Protection Service - MAPS) where government services work together collaboratively in the same building. See Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 1.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 20.

[7]        Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 20.

[8]        The Victorian RAMP trials mirror the UK's 'Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference' (MARAC) model, which has substantially improved information sharing and service delivery to victims of domestic violence. Whereas the UK model compels agencies to share information about at-risk individuals by law, the Victorian trials do not. See Catherine Plunkett, 'Multi-agency responses improve safety' in Domestic Violence Resource Centre Advocate, No. 1 (Autumn/ Winter 2014), pp 1-6.

[9]        See Catherine Plunkett, 'Multi-agency responses improve safety' in Domestic Violence Resource Centre Advocate, No. 1 Autumn/ Winter 2014, pp 1-6.

[10]      Submission 33, p. 6.

[11]      Second Action Plan, p. 33.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 5.

[13]      Domestic violence orders are discussed in greater depth in chapter 9 of this report.

[14]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 25. Detective Superintendent Jouning later stated the actual number of domestic violence incidents attended by Victoria Police in this period was 65,393. Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 25.

[15]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 32.

[16]      Submission 92, p. 3.

[17]      'Statement from Police Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand, 24 November 2014' available at http://mypolice.qld.gov.au/blog/2014/11/24/police-commissioners-take-stand-violence-women-children/ (accessed 11 August 2015).

[18]      The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Standing together to tackle violence against women and children', Media Release, 24 November 2014.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 25.

[20]      Rosie Batty, 'Rosie Batty on why passion must lead to change on family violence' in The Saturday Paper, 7 February 2015.

[21]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 19.

[22]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 19.

[23]      Submission 1¸ pp 41-42.

[24]      Submission 92, p. 4.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 34.

[26]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, pp 34-35.

[27]      Submission 138, p. 8.

[28]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 30.

[29]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 30. See also Ms Therese Sands. Co-Chief Executive Officer, People with Disability Australia, Australian Cross Disability Alliance (ACDA), and Dr Jessica Cadwallader, Advocacy Project Manager, Violence Prevention, ACDA, Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, pp 10-11. 

[30]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 36.

[31]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 38.

[32]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 5.

[33]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 23.

[34]      Submission 50, p. 27.

[35]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 23.

[36]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 35.

[37]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 7.

[38]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, pp 25-26. See also One in Three Campaign, Submission 23, pp 20-21.

[39]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 29.

[40]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 29.

[41]      National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022, p. 4.

[42]      Recommendation 74, ‘Not Now, Not Ever’ – Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland.(March 2015), p. 31.

Chapter 9

[1]        Renata Alexander, Domestic Violence in Australia: The Legal Response (2002), p. 55.

[2]        The Family Law Act can be found at www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/fla1975114/ (accessed 9 July 2014); see also Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC), Family Violence and Commonwealth Laws – Improving Legal Frameworks, ALRC Report 117 (2011), p. 800.

[3]        ALRC, Family Violence and Commonwealth Laws – Improving Legal Frameworks, ALRC Report 117 (2011), p. 800.

[4]        Australian Government Solicitor, Domestic Violence Laws in Australia June 2009, p. 13.

[5]        Following Australian Government Solicitor, Domestic Violence Laws in Australia June 2009, p. 10. Note the following terms are used in different jurisdictions: New South Wales – Apprehended Violence Orders; Victoria – Intervention Orders; Queensland - Protection Orders; Western Australia – Violence Restraining Orders; South Australia – Intervention Orders; Tasmania – Family Violence Orders; ACT – Protection Orders; Northern Territory – Domestic Violence Orders.

[6]        Australian Government Solicitor, Domestic Violence Laws in Australia June 2009, p. 25.

[7]        Renata Alexander, Domestic Violence in Australia: The Legal Response (2002), p. 97.

[8]        Australian Government, Attorney-General's Department and R Chisholm, Family Courts Violence Review (2009): Family Law Council of Australia, Improving responses to Family Violence in the Family Law System: An Advice on the Intersection of Family Violence and Family Law Issues (2009); Victorian Law Reform Commission, Protection Applications in the Children's Court, Final Report 19 (2010); Australian Institute of Family Studies, Evaluation of the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental responsibility) Act 2006 (Cth) Reforms (2009); Equal Before the Law: Towards Disability Justice Strategies (2014). See also the National Association of Community Legal Centres and Women's Legal Services Australia Submission 26, pp1-2.

[9]        Note that the work done jointly by the ALRC with the NSW Law Reform Commission (NSWLRC) for their 2010 report was built upon by the ALRC's 2011 report the following year. See ALRC and NSWLRC, Family Violence – a National Legal Response, ALRC Report 114/ NSWLRC Report 128 (2010); and ALRC, Family Violence and Commonwealth Laws – Improving Legal Frameworks, ALRC Report 117 (2011).

[10]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 27.

[11]      See National Association of Community Legal Centres and Women's Legal Services Australia, Submission 26, p. 10; Australian Women Against Violence Alliance, Submission 62, p. 6; Women's Legal Centre (ACT and Region), Submission 67, p. 2; ACT Domestic Violence Prevention Council, Submission 100, p. 15.

[12]      National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022: Progress Report to the Council of Australian Governments 2010-2022 at www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/05_2013/final_edited_report_edit.pdf (accessed 20 April 2015), p. 117.

[13]      See SCLJ Communique 4 April 2013 at www.lccsc.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/sclj/documents/pdf/sclj%20communique%20april%202013%20final.pdf (accessed 8 May 2015).

[14]      'National response to recommendations from the ALRC Report into family violence that jointly affect the Commonwealth, States and Territories' at www.lccsc.gov.au/sclj/archive/former_sclj/standing_council_publications/2013_publications.html (accessed 8 April 2015).

[15]      Submission 100, p. 15. See also Federation of Community Legal Centres (Vic), Submission 115, p. 12; Redfern Legal Centre, Submission 129, pp 8-9, p. 13.

[16]      ACT Government, Submission 121, p. 40.

[17]      Mid-Year Economic and Financial Outlook 2013-14 (December 2013), p. 119.

[18]      See the Budget measure 'Legal Aid — withdrawal of additional funding' in the Commonwealth Budget 2014-15, Budget Paper 2: Expense Measures, p. 60.

[19]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 17.

[20]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 26.

[21]      National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, Factsheet: Funding Cuts to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (2013) at www.natsils.org.au/portals/natsils/submission/Funding%20Cuts%20Factsheet%202%20April%202013.pdf (accessed 25 February 2015).

[22]      See for example the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, Submission 93; Aboriginal Family Law Services (WA), Submission 48; Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria, Submission 73; Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory, Submission 134.

[23]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 17.

[24]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 41.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 41.

[26]      See for example, Women's Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services WA, Submission 89, p. 17.

[27]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 42.

[28]      The Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, 'Legal aid funding assured to support the most vulnerable in our community', Media Release, 26 March 2015.

[29]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014. 13.

[30]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 43.

[31]      Submission 54, p. 12. Other submissions also discussed the importance of interpreters, including the Thai Information and Welfare Association, Submission 52¸ p. 3.

[32]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 30.

[33]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 35.

[34]      Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, pp 3, 6.

[35]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 21.

[36]      ALRC, Family Violence and Commonwealth Laws – Improving Legal Frameworks, ALRC Report 117 (2011), Recommendation 31-2, p. 47.

[37]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 21.

[38]      Family Law Courts, 'Family Reports' at www.familylawcourts.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/FLC/Home/Publications/Family+Law+Courts+publications/FCOA_cds_family_reports (accessed 13 January 2015).

[39]      Family Law Courts, 'Family Consultants' at www.familylawcourts.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/FLC/Home/Publications/Family+Law+Courts+publications/Family+Consultants (accessed 13 January 2015).

[40]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 41.

[41]      Committee Hansard, 6 November 2014, p. 7.

[42]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, pp 46-47.

[43]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 41.

[44]      Committee Hansard, 6 November 2014, p. 3.

[45]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 5.

[46]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 21.

[47]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 45.

[48]      Renata Alexander, Domestic Violence in Australia: The Legal Response (2002), p. 87.

[49]      Australian Government Solicitor, Domestic Violence Laws in Australia June 2009, p. 13.

[50]      Australian Government Solicitor, Domestic Violence Laws in Australia June 2009, pp 29-30.

[51]      Australian Government Solicitor, Domestic Violence Laws in Australia June 2009, p. 14. For a full list of protection order provisions in every state and territory can be found in Renata Alexander, Domestic Violence in Australia: The Legal Response (2002), pp 91-184.

[52]      Australian Government Solicitor, Domestic Violence Laws in Australia June 2009, pp 14, 28.

[53]      The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minster of Australia, 'COAG agenda to address ending violence against women', Media Release, 28 January 2015.

[54]      Law, Crime and Community Safety Council, Communique 3 October 2014 at www.lccsc.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/sclj/lccsc%203%20october%202014%20communique.pdf (accessed 17 January 2014).

[55]      Crim Trac,'News, 15 September 2014' at www.crimtrac.gov.au/about_this_site/News.html (accessed 17 January 2014).

[56]      Ms Tracy Ballantyne, Acting Assistant Secretary, Family Law Branch, Attorney-General's Department, Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 64. See also Ms Cate McKenzie, Principal Adviser, Department of Social Services, Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, pp 17-18.

[57]      COAG Communique, 17 April 2015, p. 1. See also Mrs Jenny Bloomfield, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Office for Women, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Ms Cate McKenzie, Principal Adviser, Department of Social Services, Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, pp 17-18.

[58]      Mr Michael Pahlow, Assistant Secretary, AusCheck Branch, Attorney-General's Department, Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 18.

[59]      Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, pp 18-19.

[60]      COAG, Special Meeting Communique, 23 July 2015.

[61]      Michael Inman, 'ACT government announces strengthened interim domestic violence orders' in Canberra Times, 11 May 2015.

[62]      Victims of Crime Commissioner ACT, 'Position Paper: Reforming the Framework for Applying for a Domestic Violence Order in the ACT' (March 2015) available at http://cdn.justice.act.gov.au/resources/uploads/New_Victim_Support/Position_Paper_Protection_Orders_FINAL2.pdf  (accessed 12 May 2015).

[63]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 27.

[64]      Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, 'National Family Violence Bench Book', Media release, 9 June 2015.

[65]      Recommendation 22-5 of the ALRC and NSWLRC, Family Violence – a National Legal Response, ALRC Report 114/ NSWLRC Report 128 (2010).

[66]      'National response to recommendations from the ALRC Report into family violence that jointly affect the Commonwealth, States and Territories', pp 3-4.

[67]      See answers to questions on notice from 11 June 2015 hearing received from the Attorney-General's Department on 2 July 2015.

[68]      COAG, Special Meeting Communique, 23 July 2015.

Chapter 10

[1]        See Ms Mirjana Wilson, Domestic Violence Crisis Service, Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 2; Women's Health West, Submission 21, p. 20; Federation of Community Legal Centres (Victoria), Submission 115, p. 15; Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, Submission 123, Attachment 1 (Victorian Homelessness Action Plan [2012]), p. 7; Domestic Violence Victoria, Submission 124, p. 14.

[2]        Submission 13, p. 3.

[3]        Submission 61, p. 5.

[4]        Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 2.

[5]        Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, pp 4-5.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 27. Ms Oberin was referring to Northern Integrated Family Violence Services research conducted by Dr Kristin Diemer into the cost of supporting a woman experiencing family violence in the northern metropolitan region. See Launch of Fund the Family Violence System Factsheet available at http://nepcp.org.au/news-and-events/launch-fund-family-violence-system-factsheet-northern-integrated-family-violence-ser (accessed 17 April 2015).

[7]        Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 27.

[8]        See Ms Marcia Williams, ACT DVPC, Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 3; Ms Mirjana Wilson, DVCS, Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 4; Ms Julie Oberin, AWAVA, Committee Hansard, 15 October 2015, p. 28; National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services Forum, Submission 51, p. 5; Women's Health in the South-East, Submission 61, p. 5; Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service, Submission 109, p. 7.

[9]        Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 4.

[10]      This is drawn from actions to be taken under National Priority 3, Action 14 - Strengthening systems and service integration. See Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children), p. 29.

[11]      These issues have been discussed in this report in chapter 2 (financial effects of domestic violence) and chapter 5 (employers providing leave following incidents of domestic violence).

[12]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 4.

[13]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 4. Ms Williams was referring to a study undertaken by Jo Watson, Staying at home after domestic violence, ACTDVCS (2014).

[14]      Submission 40, p. 16.

[15]      See for example: One in Three Campaign, Submission 23, pp 20-21; Dr Deborah Walsh, Submission 25, p. 2; McAuley Community Services for Women, Submission 30, p. 4.

[16]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 11.

[17]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 17. The need for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trauma counsellors to be trained was also highlighted by Phoenix House, Submission 1, p. 39.

[18]      For example: Coalition of Women’s Domestic Violence Services of South Australia, Submission 38, p. 5; Ms Rosie Batty, Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, pp 12-13, p. 15; Ms McCormack, DV Victoria, Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 18.

[19]      Submission 2, p. 2.

[20]      Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 2.

[21]      Submission 30, p. 5.

[22]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 23.

[23]      InTouch Multicultural Centre against Family Violence, Submission 138, p. 3.

[24]      Submission 75, p. 3.

[25]      Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 37.

[26]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 35.

[27]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 35.

[28]      Submission 124, p. 17.

[29]      Submission 49, p. 5.

[30]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 19.

[31]      Submission 108, p. 15.

[32]      Committee Hansard, 6 November 2014, p. 5; See also Women's Legal Service Inc. (Queensland), Submission 108, p. 16.

[33]      Ms Rosie Batty, Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 5.

[34]      Submission 27, Attachment 1, p. 18. See also Dr Jessica Cadwallader, Advocacy Project Manager, Violence Prevention, Australian Cross Disability Alliance, Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 13. 

[35]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 8.

[36]      Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 12.

[37]      Minister for Social Services, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, 'Coalition reverses Labor's funding cuts on homelessness with $230 million commitment prioritising victims of domestic violence', Media Release, 23 March 2015.

[38]      For example, see: Ms Jill Kelly, Inanna Inc. and Ms Marcia Williams, ACT DVPC, Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 10. Ms Julie Oberin, AWAVA, Committee Hansard, 15 October 2014, p. 30; Ms Virginia Geddes, Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 5; Ms Barbara Crossing, Women's House Shelta, Committee Hansard, 6 November 2014, p. 10; and Ms Dale Wakefield, Alice Springs Women's Shelter, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 41.

[39]      Committee Hansard, 12 September 2014, p. 19.

[40]      Submission 51, p. 22.

[41]      National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services, Submission 51, p. 22; Equality Rights Alliance, Submission 59, p. 6; Mr Rodney Vlais, No to Violence, Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 15.

[42]      Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 5.

[43]      Department of Social Services, 'National Rental Affordability Scheme – introduction" at www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/housing-support/programmes-services/national-rental-affordability-scheme (accessed 17 April 2015).

[44]      Commonwealth Budget 2014-15, Budget Paper 2: Budget Measures, p. 205.

[45]      Dr Matthew Thomas, 'Budget Review 2014-15: Housing and Homelessness', Parliamentary Library Research Paper Series 2013-14 (May 2014), p. 147. To put this in context, NRAS 'delivered 14,575 completed dwellings with 23,884 more dwellings in progress' from 2008 to 2013. See NRAS Australia, "NRAS in short summary" at www.nrasaustralia.com.au/ (accessed 20 April 2015).

[46]      McAuley Community Services for Women, Submission 30, p. 7; National Foundation for Australian Women, Submission 3, p. 4; Ms Ana Borges, Submission 42, p. 6.

[47]      Submission 101, pp 15-16.

[48]      Submission 3, p. 4.

[49]      Submission 51, p. 21; see also Ms Ana Borges, Submission 42, p. 6.

[50]      WHO, Intimate partner violence and alcohol fact sheet (2006), p. 1.

[51]      WHO, Intimate partner violence and alcohol fact sheet (2006), pp 1-3. See also FARE, Submission 144, Attachment 2 (The hidden harm: Alcohol's impact on children and families [2015]), p. 8.

[52]      This statistic comes from data collected in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. See Submission 144, Attachment 2 (The hidden harm: Alcohol's impact on children and families [2015]), p. 8.

[53]      Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory all reported increases from previous years. See Submission 144, Attachment 2 (The hidden harm: Alcohol's impact on children and families [2015]), p. 8.

[54]      Submission 144, Attachment 2 (The hidden harm: Alcohol's impact on children and families [2015]), p. 8.

[55]      For an outline of other contributing factors see evidence given by Mr John Paterson, Chief Executive Officer, AMSANT, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, pp 16-17.

[56]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 18.

[57]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 5.

[58]      See for example Ms Olga Havnen, Chief Executive Officer, Danila Dilba Health Service, Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 19.

[59]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 22.

[60]      Committee Hansard, 10 March 2015, p. 25.

[61]      Note National Priority 3, Action 15 - Strengthening systems integration and service delivery models for Indigenous women, Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children), p. 35.

[62]      See the measure 'National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness — extension' in the
2015-16 Commonwealth Budget, Budget Paper 2: Expense Measures, p. 165.

[63]      Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Reform of the Federation White Paper: Roles and Responsibilities in Housing and Homelessness, Issues Paper 2 (December 2014). 

[64]      See APO NT, Submission 134¸ Attachment 3 (Grog Summit Communique) and Attachment 4 (Grog Summit Report).

Additional comments by Labor Senators

[1]        Australian Labor Party, Women’s Budget Reply Statement (14 May 2015) at https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/australianlaborparty/pages/63/attachments/original/1431577422/15ALP_Womens_Budget_Reply_2015.pdf?1431577422

[2]        Rachel Olding, "Budget 2015: Government failed domestic violence test", The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 May 2015.

[3]        Proof Committee Hansard, 11 June 2015, p. 6.

[4]        Australian Government, Productivity Commission, Access to Justice Arrangements, Inquiry Report No 72, Volume 2, 5 September 2014, Recommendations, p. 739.

[5]        Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, Attorney-General and Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, 'Legal aid funding assured to support the most vulnerable in our community', Joint Media Release, 26 March 2015.

[6]        Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 5 (Second Action Plan), p. 14.

[7]        See for example Women's Health in the North, Submission 33, p. 6; Office of the Public Advocate, Submission 27, Attachment 1 (Voices Against Violence Paper One), p. 18; Women with Disabilities Victoria, Submission 50, p. 23.

[8]        Latika Bourke, 'Homelessness agreement between states and Commonwealth extended with $115m funding promise', ABC online, 31 March 2014.

[9]        St Vincent de Paul Society, 'Help us to cut homelessness, not funding' Media Release, 2 April 2014.

[10]       Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Scott Morrison, 'Coalition reverses Labor's funding cuts on homelessness with $230 million commitment prioritising victims of domestic violence', Media release, 23 March 2015.

[11]       Homelessness Australia, 'New analysis shows additional $33.8M needed to address domestic violence service gap, as Cabinet minister sleeps out to raise awareness of problem', Media Release, 17 June 2015.

[12]       Department of Social Services, Submission 57, Attachment 1 (National Plan), p. 8.

[13]       Council to Homeless Persons, 'Federal housing and homelessness funding cuts', Media Release 23 December 2014.

14         Community Sector Funding Cuts begin, Probono Australia, 23 December 2014 at www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2014/12/community-sector-funding-cuts-begin (accessed 15 April 2015)

Australian Greens additional comments

[1]        The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence was established on 22 February 2015 and is due to report its findings by 29 February 2016.

[2]        The Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence was established on 10 September 2014, and reported its findings on 28 February 2015.  Website: http://www.qld.gov.au/community/getting-support-health-social-issue/dfv-read-report-recommendation/index.html

[3]        Those other reports include the 2010 joint report of the Australian and NSW Law Reform Commissions, the report of the 2012 NSW Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Issues and even the 2010 National Action Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. 

[4]        For instance, evidence from DV Connect, Committee Hansard 6 November 2014, page 24-25. 

[5]        Committee Hansard, 4 November 2014, p. 18.

[6]        Committee Hansard, 5 November 2014, p. 4.

[7]        Abbott Government delivers funding boost for 1800RESPECT, 17 May 2015, http://scottmorrison.dss.gov.au/media-releases/abbott-government-delivers-funding-boost-for-node8entityentityrespect

[8]        National Association of Community Legal Centres, Plan for addressing crisis in legal assistance missing from Federal Budget, 13 May 2015, http://www.naclc.org.au/cb_pages/news/PlanforaddressingcrisisinlegalassistancemissingfromFederalBudget.php

[9]        Funding shortfall threatens SA legal centres, Lawyers Weekly, 10 June 2015,http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/16642-funding-shortfall-threatens-legal-centres

[10]       National Association of Community Legal Centres and Women's Legal Services Australia submission 26, p.14. 

[11]       Reforming Negative Gearing http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/campaigns/reforming-negative-gearing

[12]       Greens release costings for capital gains tax reform, 5 August 2015 http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/greens-release-costings-capital-gains-tax-reform