We must end violence
LIKE everyone else, I was shocked and sickened by the senseless murder-suicide of Hannah Clarke and her children in Brisbane last week and shook my head in dismay at another alleged murder of a woman in Townsville on Saturday.
Australia has a lamentable history regarding domestic violence (DV) and while hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent, the deaths, beatings and misery escalate.
Queensland passed the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act (2012) and has established a myriad of committees, that apart from devouring money, have had many meetings, forums and round tables resulting in determinations, reports and strategic plans.
And yet the victims, mostly women and children, continue to live in relationships governed by fear, pain and at times ending in death.
I acknowledge there are many men being subjected to DV by their partners and they also deserve our attention and support. However, there are many more women and children victims than men.
Meanwhile, the thankless task is left with the police to handle in the first instance.
Coming to the aid of victims is fraught with problems.
In Victoria, some male friends and I stopped a husband who was strangling his wife and it took four of us to hold him down. Our wives then had to restrain his wife because she was going to stab him.
Hours later, the police arrived and took the husband away to the watch-house.
The following morning, we were subjected to a tirade from the wife that we were trying to break up her marriage.
However, we must continue intervening because by failing to do so we are losing our humanity.
So, what is being done to stop this? Not much it seems, despite all the hot air.
The main thrust by the Queensland Government seems to be aimed at getting women equality, into leadership roles (look at the Public Service) and on to boards. Little money seems to be getting to the victims of violence.
The various government departments need consolidating into one, resolving communication issues and saving money.
DV orders (DVOS) need more work providing restrictions to both parties. Once the victim is granted a DVO, they should also be restricted from direct contact with the respondent.
Where either party breaches that DVO, there must be more consequences other than promising the court they won’t do it again.
Institute a demerit point system (like traffic infringements) where respondents receive a mandatory prison sentence when they accrue too many points.
When drugs or alcohol are elements of the DV, the courts must be directed to treat them as aggravating rather the mitigating factors leading to more severe sentencing.
Court action needs to be immediate, not weeks or months down the track.
Respondents must be made to attend DV programs with their attendance, attitude and participation accurately recorded, not just a tick, flick and pass. Skilled counsellors must be employed to assess their potential for future violence.
Someone recently wrote that our politicians need to display courage, standing up for the victims of domestic violence.
Not so. I say we need the political parties to demonstrate some guts by standing up now and dealing with this carnage. JEFF WILLIAMS,
Condon.