NSW Domestic Violence Homicide Review Panel announced

MEDIA RELEASE
Minister for Women The Hon. Linda Burney MP
Attorney General The Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

PANEL SET UP TO REVIEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEATHS

Minister for Women Linda Burney and Attorney General John Hatzistergos today announced the establishment of a domestic violence homicide review panel in NSW to coincide with White Ribbon Day and the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

“This new model will help us find out how we can improve the system to help prevent domestic violence-related deaths,” Ms Burney said.

“I’m confident the new panel will be rigorous in its investigations and its recommendations will contribute to a reduction in these appalling and preventable deaths.”

“From 2003 to 2008, 215 people died as a result of domestic violence, which equates to 42 per cent of all homicides.

“This is a shocking statistic. One domestic violence homicide is one too many.”
Ms Burney said the Government has budgeted $504,000 this financial year to set up the domestic violence homicide review panel, which creates a mechanism to systemically analyse all domestic violence homicides.

The NSW Government announced in late 2008 that it would consider the merits of a creating a mechanism to systematically review all closed domestic violence homicides.

“An expert group – including representatives of the Government and non-Government sectors – was formed to provide the Government with advice,” Ms Burney said.

“This group examined homicides related to domestic violence that occurred over the previous five years.

“They recommended an ongoing review process be established for each individual homicide to ensure that laws, policies and services are effective.

“Today, I am pleased to announce that the NSW Government will implement this recommendation with the creation of the domestic homicide review panel consisting of government and non government experts with administrative and research support.”

“The Government has listened to the views of women in the non-Government sector who campaigned for a review model,” she said.

Mr Hatzistergos said the legislation giving effect to the panel will allow the Coroner or a former coronial officer to Chair the panel. The NSW State Coroner Mary Jerram will be the first chair.

“Establishing a panel convened by the Coroner will mean it will have better access to information on domestic violence related deaths across Australia via the National Coroners Information System (NCIS).” Mr Hatzistergos said. “The NCIS improves the ability of all Coroners to identify and address systematic problems within their jurisdiction by allowing comparison with similar coronial cases in other States.”

“NSW is only the second Australian state to introduce a domestic violence homicide review panel.”

Ms Burney said the unit is another initiative of the NSW Government which addresses domestic violence.

“We have expanded two programs: Staying Home Leaving Violence, which helps women stay in their homes by removing the violent offender and the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Program,” she said.

“We also have the Start Safely rental subsidy initiative to help domestic violence victims who leave refuges or their own homes move into private accommodation.

“In addition we have implemented a range of legislative reforms to protect and support victims and make offenders more accountable,” Ms Burney said.

Ingrid Poulson, whose estranged husband killed her two children and her father in 2003, is supportive of a review panel. “To fight our enemy, we must understand it,” she said.

“And for me, this is really the most important role for the review teams; using the painful lessons of our past to improve our knowledge and understanding, to shed light into the corners of our ignorance where women and children live in fear, where women and children die.”

Betty Green, the convener of the Domestic Violence Coalition Committee commended the Premier and Government in their decision to establish a Domestic Violence Homicide Review in NSW.

“It is pleasing to see that the model to be established is a panel of government and nongovernment representatives working together in collaboration to understand why domestic violence homicides have occurred and what steps can be taken to strengthen the system,” she said.

“This is a significant step forward and one which I believe will not only make a difference in the long term but also honour the women, children and men who have been killed in the context of domestic violence.”

Media contacts: Anh Dang 9228 4455 / 0427 783 208 (Minister for Women)
Adam Bell 0448 302 533 (Attorney General)

National Remembrance Day

Mt Isa

I was invited by DV DRAG (Death Review Action Group) Queensland, to speak at a Forum in Mt Isa on Monday 2nd March 2009.






Over 30 people attended the Forum to hear about the domestic homicide review process and how it can reduce and prevent the domestic violence related deaths of women. People were also keen to hear about the DVCC campaign particularly the flower laying ceremonies and how rural and regional areas conducted their own ceremonies and presentations of red roses to local Members.


An important part of DV DRAG campaign has been to get the message out to remote areas and consult with them on how remote communities can participate in a future review process. It was fantastic to connect with not only the workers in the Mt Isa area but also to hear about the integrated response they have developed as a community in responding to women and children affected by domestic violence. My thanks to Shirley Slann for her work in pulling the forum together and her hospitality.

Betty Green
DVCC

Reducing Family Homicide

The Domestic Violence Homicide forum “Reducing Family Homicide: Learning from Loss” was held in Adelaide at Flinders University on 19th February 2009. Key aims of the forum were to inform participants of a research project Dr Elspeth McInnes will be undertaking. Dr McInnes will undertake a review of domestic violence related homicides in South Australia in the period 2004-2010. She will analyse records relating to the domestic violence deaths of women and children, explore help seeking efforts, system responses and the way in which they are represented in agency records. A further aim was to establish a lobby group to campaign the South Australian Government to establish a Domestic Violence homicide review process.


Participants were keen to also hear about the work and campaigns of the NSW Domestic Violence Coalition. DVCC members will be pleased to know that at a Rally to be held in Adelaide on March 26th people have been asked to each bring a Red Rose to remember the most recent domestic violence murders of women and children. I am told the South Australian Attorney General will address the rally.

National Remembrance Day: Remembering Women & Children Killed in Domestic Violence

There are a number of other groups in Australia such as DVDRAG (Domestic Violence Death Review Action Group) Queensland, South Australia and Victoria who have had contact with me as we have worked towards seeing Domestic Violence Homicide Reviews implemented in all states of Australia. A National Domestic Violence Homicide Review Action Group is currently being formed.

When I visited Mt Isa and Brisbane in February I attended a DVDRAG meeting. As we talked about future activities we could initiate nationally we realised that each State has different days and months of activism around domestic violence awareness. Queensland for example holds a Domestic Violence Awareness Month through May every year. The first Wednesday of that month is known as Remembrance Day for women and children killed in the context of domestic violence. Activities are held which have included candle vigils, Silent Witness exhibition, postcard campaigns. Western Australia also observes a particular time of year for activism focused on domestic violence deaths of women and children.

The first National Remembrance Day will held on Wednesday May 6th 2009. Plans are currently underway in developing a significant activity that local groups and communities can participate in.

You will notice we now have a Count Down Clock on our blog. Over the next few weeks we will be posting new blogs and information to keep you up to date with plans for the first National Remembrance Day.