‘Wake-up call’: family violence probe calls for change
Abe Maddison |
Victims of family, domestic and sexual violence will have access to a 24-hour crisis phone line under a state government’s response to royal commission findings.
South Australia’s Labor government will also move to regulate home delivery of alcohol after unveiling the commission’s report on Tuesday.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the government had already agreed to seven of its 139 recommendations and will formally respond to the remainder by the end of the year.
“It’s important to remember how we got here – tragically, a little over 12 months ago, four women died in the space of just over a week,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“It was a really harsh wake-up call that reminded us all that domestic violence is having an extraordinarily detrimental impact in our community.”
The government has agreed to a standalone ministerial portfolio for domestic, family and sexual violence, will develop a five-year statewide strategy and require department chief executives to develop implementation plans.
The main report is based on the commission’s comprehensive public consultation, listening sessions, public hearings and submissions over the last year.
There is also a Voices report with harrowing stories from hundreds of victim survivors and family members.
Commissioner and former senator Natasha Stott Despoja said the report was “evidence-based, effective, practical and forward facing”.
“I believe this report provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our state to address the issue of domestic, family and sexual violence in a way that we haven’t before,” she said.
It would require significant investment to fix the existing fragmented and “crisis-driven” response, Ms Stott Despoja added.
Nobody could reasonably believe the report would make “all their problems go away tomorrow”, but Mr Malinauskas said the proposed reforms would make a difference and allow SA to assume a position of leadership if it was done well.
There was a recommendation to reform liquor licensing, particularly with regard to unregulated delivery services.
“I think that’s got to change,” the premier said.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
AAP
