Minister under pressure as alleged DV murders mount
Andrew Stafford and Robyn Wuth |
Pressure is mounting on a state government elected on a hardline crime platform after a string of suspected domestic violence murders.
Queensland’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Minister Amanda Camm is facing further scrutiny after Djuarn Baker-Adams was found dead south of Brisbane on Wednesday.
Ronald Arthur Claren Cora, 37, a musician who uses the stage name MC Triks, has been accused of her domestic violence murder.
Ms Baker-Adams, 27, died days after making contact with police and receiving a temporary protection order.
She marks the fourth suspected domestic violence murder in 45 days in Queensland.
The state’s Liberal National government has been accused of not matching its tough-on-crime rhetoric with effective action on domestic and family violence.
Ms Camm is under fire after the government cut domestic and family violence prevention funding by $38.5 million in the 2026/27 state budget.
The government is also in the spotlight for its failure to fully implement the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce’s 277 recommendations, including a register of serious and high-risk domestic violence offenders.
“We are calmly, methodically working through those recommendations … we will be updating Queenslanders later this year,” Ms Camm told reporters on Thursday.
“One death to domestic and family violence is too many, no matter the circumstances.”
Cora’s matter was mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.
He is also accused of contravention of a domestic violence order.
Ms Baker-Adams was found unresponsive in a Slacks Creek bedroom early on Wednesday after Cora reported the alleged assault, police say.
Despite frantic attempts by paramedics, she could not be revived and died at the scene.
An autopsy would determine the exact cause, police said.
It is alleged Cora and Ms Baker-Adams had previously been in a relationship which had since ended.
It comes a week after a pregnant 23-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man were found dead in a suspected murder-suicide in Charleville in Queensland’s southwest.
In July, new mother Jana Armstrong was reported missing from her home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.
Her body was discovered in bushland four days later, with her ex-partner Dharminder Singh, 48, charged with her murder.
On June 28, 23-year-old Mallorie Jane Roberts was allegedly shot dead, with her partner Ethan Midgley, 23, facing a murder charge over her death.
Cora did not appear in court when the matter was mentioned on Thursday and did not make a bail application.
Three supporters of Ms Baker-Adams who described themselves as childhood friends attended court.
Cora is set to face Beenleigh Magistrates Court on August 27.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491
AAP