By Emily-Rose Toohey
At last week’s council meeting, Cr Cynthia McDonald suggested SDRC take action to ensure safe housing for women escaping domestic and family violence, to be considered for the Southern Downs.
In late May, the Queensland Government announced an overhaul of laws and practices to better protect Queensland women from domestic and family violence and hold perpetrators to account.
The $363 million package of reforms included new laws and programs to recognise, prevent, and punish coercive control, which is a pattern of controlling behaviours that creates an unequal power dynamic in a relationship.
“This includes a Commission of Inquiry into police practices, expansion of the Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) courts, better support for women, a special strategy for First Nations communities, and funding for perpetrator programs to change men’s behaviour and stop the cycle of violence,” the reforms outlined.
“Furthermore, this includes ensuring victims receive a joint response from police and DFV services, and respectful relationships education to all Queensland children and young people are increased.”
As a result, Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) wrote a letter congratulating Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, to which she acknowledged formally in a response letter presented at council last week.
“The prevention of domestic and family violence (DFV) and holding perpetrators to account remains a priority for the Queensland Government,” Premier Palaszczuk wrote.
“In 2020, we established the independent Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce to examine coercive control and the experience of women across the criminal justice system.
“In the Taskforce’s first report, Hear her voice, it identified fundamental systemic and structural issues in Queensland’s justice system relating to its approach to matters of domestic and family violence.”
However, Cr McDonald said she believed there was one element not explored in the package and was something necessary for the region.
“I would like us to respond to the Premier and the Minister of Housing in regards to incorporating housing for domestic violence victims as well,” she said.
“The package doesn’t incorporate housing, and we have a severe shortage of housing for people who are victims of domestic violence.
“If there could be some level of temporary housing for women and men who are in these critical circumstances, that would be important.”
