Concern about Opposition’s policy for mandatory sentencing for family violence offenders
Domestic Violence Victoria is concerned about the Victorian Opposition leader’s recent announcements on mandatory sentencing for family violence offenders. Obviously we want to ensure all offenders are properly managed by the justice system but family violence is a complex matter that cannot be changed by knee-jerk reactions. “We welcome the Opposition’s desire to take action on family violence, but there is no evidence mandatory sentences or increased police powers before…
More Details >Andrew’s Government’s public housing announcement
Domestic Violence Victoria congratulates the Andrews government for their announcement about 11,000 new public housing properties over three years, which will house around 1,800 Victorians experiencing homelessness. “Affordable housing is one of the many barriers that can prevent women and their children from escaping family violence,” said Fiona McCormack, CEO of Domestic Violence Victoria. “More housing available to women in this situation will save lives and reduce the risk of…
More Details >Family violence is above politics
Yesterday morning, DV Vic, No To Violence, GENVIC, CASA Forum and VCOSS stood together on the steps of Parliament House to call on all political parties to unite against family violence. In the wake of nine Australian women being killed by current or former partners over the last few weeks, it’s critical that this devastating issue is given the attention it deserves. Family violence is our state’s biggest law and…
More Details >DV Vic’s response to proposal for on-the-spot intervention orders
DV Vic is concerned by the Victorian Opposition’s plan to give police powers to issue intervention orders on the spot which could lead to women ending up with orders that don’t work for them. When women call police for help, it is often after a violent and traumatic incident. Asking women for their input into the conditions of an intervention order at that time, including the conditions for contact with…
More Details >Commemorating Vic Kostiuk: A valued friend of the family violence sector
On behalf of our members, Board and team, DV Vic would like to commemorate Vic Kostiuk’s dedication and extraordinary contribution to those experiencing family violence during his career at Victoria Police. DV Vic is the peak body for family violence services. As such, we have a membership of the services in Victoria that provide a response to women and children experiencing family violence. Vic was renowned in the family violence…
More Details >Focus should be on improving police practice and not a stand-alone offence
DV Vic is concerned by the Victorian Liberal’s promise to introduce a stand-alone strangulation offence. A strangulation offence may provide greater safety for survivors of family violence, but, on its own, it will not address the gaps in policing, duty failures, poor attitudes and lack of knowledge about family violence that still exist in some parts of Victoria Police. We support police to continue their focus on improving police practice…
More Details >Making renting fair for victims of family violence
DV Vic welcomes and supports legislation being introduced by the Victorian government to make renting easier for victims of family violence. The Royal Commission into Family Violence made several recommendations related to residential tenancy reform, which we commend the government for including in this Bill. DV Vic supports the Make Renting Fair campaign’s call for Victorian Parliamentarians to pass the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2018 before the state election this…
More Details >Family violence is not a niche issue, it is a core issue
Domestic Violence Victoria is devastated by the murders of two more women in Melbourne over the weekend following the deeply saddening deaths of Jack and Jennifer Edwards in Sydney last Thursday. In the wake of these tragic incidents we reiterate the need for all political parties at both federal, state and territory levels to commit to long-term, bipartisan and evidence-based effort to end violence against women and children. This includes…
More Details >RE: Cross examination changes
DV Vic congratulates the Turnbull government on following through with their commitment to prohibit direct cross examination of family violence victims by their abusers. We support Women’s Legal Services Australia in their call to ensure this important legislation is supported with adequate resourcing. “This legislation is vital in supporting survivors of family violence engaging with the Family Law system. Being directly questioned in the Family Court by an abusive former…
More Details >RE: ‘Family Violence Disclosure Scheme’ announcement
The Victorian Coalition have announced their intention to pilot a ‘Family Violence Disclosure Scheme’ should they be elected to government, to allow women and their family and friends to check whether an intimate partner has a history of family violence. DV Vic appreciates the Victorian Coalition’s focus on family violence but has concerns that this scheme was not included in the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence. “The…
More Details >Preventing men’s violence against women
We welcome the Andrews government’s ongoing commitment to implementing the Royal Commission into Family Violence recommendations as seen in today’s announcement about giving legislative force to Respect Victoria. In light of the numerous incidents of violence against women and their children this week it highlights the critical need for prevention work. Men’s violence against women, which is most often targeted at women in their families, is not a niche issue….
More Details >RE: Eurydice Dixon
All forms of violence against women are connected, whether it is committed by someone the woman knows, a stranger, or even a system that treats women as objects. There’s something in our culture that supports the message that men are entitled to women’s time and attention. But this is something we can change. We can build a safer community by recognising and challenging sexist attitudes when we see them. We…
More Details >Joint Statement: United opposition to unfair and dangerous mandatory sentencing laws
Joint Statement: United opposition to unfair and dangerous mandatory sentencing laws Thursday 21 June 2018 – for immediate release We, as leaders of Victoria’s community, family violence, youth, drug and alcohol and community legal sectors, unanimously oppose the introduction of mandatory sentencing laws by the Andrews Government. We provide services to families who are in crisis. We know first-hand these laws will impact ordinary Victorians. The laws are wide reaching,…
More Details >RE: Australian Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Report
As much as DV Vic wishes a report like this was never necessary, we congratulate the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Network on their report released today. Thanks to the Network’s extraordinary efforts and national collaboration we now have the most robust and reliable data on intimate partner homicide that has ever been released in Australia. DV Vic’s work reflects the evidence base that shows the major cause of violence against women is gender…
More Details >RE: Joy Rowley Coroners Court Inquest
Joy Rowley’s murder was a horrific crime and should never have happened. As much as we wish this inquest wasn’t necessary we are keen to hear the Coroner’s recommendations on how women like Joy can be better protected in the future. We’ve achieved so much in the last few years but The Royal Commission into Family Violence was the start not the end of that process. We cannot be complacent…
More Details >RE: Media reporting on Margaret River shooting
After the Margaret River shooting DV Vic wholeheartedly supports the call for more mental health services in rural areas and stronger work on dismantling the entrenched gender roles that teach troubled men to think there is shame in reaching out for help. DV Vic is saddened by the tragic killing of two women and four children and Aaron Cockman, the four children’s father, has our deepest sympathy. We understand that…
More Details >Report of the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor: Keeping family violence reform on track
Domestic Violence Victoria commends the Andrews Government in appointing the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor to report on the government’s performance in implementing the Royal Commission into Family Violence’s recommendations and welcomes the first report released today. Victoria’s significant investment into the Royal Commission’s recommendations won’t be worthwhile unless there are checks and balances in place to make sure that their implementation genuinely works to turn the tide on family…
More Details >Money for Jobs and Training in Family Violence
Delivering on the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence will need a skilled workforce. The Andrews government’s commitment to the recommendations remains strong but, for the first time, family violence is not a headline budget item. Domestic Violence Victoria supports the Andrews government in their understanding that the work of addressing men’s violence against women is generational. Long term and bi-partisan commitment to this as a core priority…
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