Oasis plan out in open
THE family of Teresa Bradford, the Pimpama woman stabbed to death last year by her abusive husband after he was released on bail, has reached out to the terrified wife of a bikie who wrote to the Premier pleading for help.
Ms Bradford’s mother Dale Shales has left contact details and a message of support with the Hearts of Purple DV support group after reading the Gold Coast Bulletin’s report on the woman’s letter to Annastacia Palaszczuk asking for her to intervene.
“I’m thinking of you. My prayers are with you. I’m here if you need us,” Ms Shales says in her message.
Ms Shales has previously urged all politicians to support a new law to put tracking devices on serial domestic violence offenders.
Ms Bradford was murdered by her estranged husband David Bradford on January 30 last year at their Pimpama home after he was released on bail, despite having punched and choked her in a vicious attack in late November in 2016.
Hearts of Purple chief executive officer Michelle Beattie, who spoke to Ms Shales, said the support group would provide help for the young mother as it continued to fight for much-needed reforms of the DV system.
The charity group raises funds to assist victims, providing clothes and food, and also can obtain expert security advice.
In her letter to the Premier, the young mother wrote that she feared she would “be the next Teresa Bradford” after her bikie husband was given bail despite facing multiple charges including rape and attempted strangulation.
The Premier’s office re- sponded that the case was “heartbreaking” but no government could intervene in the judicial process.
The initial reaction to the email was to advise the woman to contact triple-0 before it was “sent for urgent action to relevant government departments”, including police and domestic violence prevention.
A spokesman for the Premier told the Bulletin: “A basic tenet of our society is that courts and governments are separate. All a government can do is make sure perpetrators face justice and victims are supported.”
Ms Beattie said she was stunned by the response from the Premier and her office.
“Her response to me was absolutely disgusting – ‘just call triple-0’,” she said.
“It’s sad the Government can’t do more, won’t do more. I just scratch my head.
“There’s a lot more work (on reform) that needs to be done. We need a full overhaul of the system.
“I wish I could get some crime scene photographs. I’d throw them in the Premier’s face.”
LNP Shadow Minister for Women and Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates called on the Government to conduct a thorough survey of all women let down by the system.
Ms Bates urged the Government to introduce the LNP’s policy of a one-stop shop where victims could quickly access support services.
Under the $4.35 million plan, centres would be created at the northern Gold Coast and Townsville.
The support network initiative is modelled on a similar service operating in the US which includes prevention programs focused on healthy relationships, a 24-hour bilingual crisis hotline, emergency shelters and legal support.
Ms Bates said she had the support of Gold Coast frontline DV staffers in calling for a women’s safety audit.
“Women need to be asked the question if they are getting crisis resolution. All they are getting at the moment is a crisis response,” she said. IT’S the Oasis that Star Casino is hoping will lure the whales of the gambling world.
The casino’s new private gaming room will sit high in the development’s six-star Darling Hotel, an exclusive glasswalled suite that overlooks Broadbeach, a position the casino hopes gives it a leg up in the ruthless battle between Australian casinos to lure highstakes punters to the table.
The giant gambling group let slip the probable name of the room, which will be for high-stakes gamblers willing to risk up to $300,000 on a single bet, in a presentation to stockbroking group Morgans, and that it is due to be operational in the first half of 2019, along with restaurant Harvest Buffet.
It comes on the back of a massive increase in the number of high-rollers using the private gaming rooms at the casino, with a Star Casino Group’s investor presentation this year – 30 per cent up for domestic use of the private gaming room and a massive 120 per cent increase in international use.
A The Star Gold Coast spokesperson said it was an important tactical move for the group. “Given the massive investments we are making into the Gold Coast ... naturally we are expecting the world-class facilities we are delivering to create increased business from domestic and international visitation,” they said.