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If we let some priorities slip this year, don’t let domestic violence be one of them

Sending our nation indoors to deal with the ravages of Covid has also forced many Australians, mostly women, into lethal situations within their own homes, writes Madonna King

Aug 12, 2021, updated Aug 12, 2021
The domestic violence murders of Hannah Clarke and her children shocked Queensland. (Image: Facebook)

The domestic violence murders of Hannah Clarke and her children shocked Queensland. (Image: Facebook)

It’s inevitable, during a pandemic, that other policy priorities slip.

But please God, let’s not make domestic violence one of them.

Look at the increases in domestic violence protection orders, breaches of orders and even strangulation offences over the past year, and it is sickening.

Let’s take one area – strangulation offences – and look at what Queensland court figures are now showing what’s happened over the past year. In Ipswich, alone, there’s been a 248 percent jump in strangulation offences through the Magistrates Court.

In the same period – comparing the years 2019-20 to 2020-21 – there has been 116 percent more in Beenleigh, 44 percent more in Southport and 47 percent more in Brisbane. Mt Isa has recorded a jump of 156 percent – and across the state the overall increase is more than 40 percent.

Inside or outside a pandemic, that calls for an urgent and sustained response. Add to that, though, this fact: Separate research by domestic violence organisations shows that women who have suffered either strangulation or smothering are eight times more likely to be killed by their tormentor. Not as likely. Or twice as likely. Eight times more likely.

That is frightening, particularly given the impact of lockdowns on families where domestic violence is occurring.

Hannah Clarke and her three gorgeous children changed the narrative around domestic violence; their brutal death, at the hands of the monster who claimed to be their husband and father, stopped us all in our tracks; but more importantly it focused political discussion.

Since then, coercive control has become the subject of serious investigation, along with recommendations around education and punishment and rehabilitation.

But while we wage war on a pandemic that is shutting us in our homes, we need to walk and chew gum at the same time. We need to turn the tide on the statistics that breaking families and almost breaking charities.

Police are called out every couple of minutes to a domestic violence complaint and their work shows in the court figures too. Indeed, new DVO applications lodged by police increased by 75 percent in the last year. In bare numbers, that means police lodged 21,623 applications for DVOs in the year to June 2021.

Perhaps the most startling figures – apart from the increase in strangulation – sit with the number of breaches to domestic violence orders.

Maroochydore tops the list with a 102 percent increase in DVO breaches. In Townsville, breaches have increased by almost 70 percent, in Beenleigh 60 percent and in Richlands, 67 percent.

Mackay has recorded a 45 percent increase in breaches, Mt Isa a 35 percent increase, Pine Rivers a 27 percent increase and Toowoomba a 23 percent increase.

Dianne Gipey is the state manager for Queensland and Northern Territory Family Violence at The Salvation Army. And asked to describe the figures, she simply repeats one word: “Horrifying. Horrifying.’’

“Each figure is not just a number. Not only a stat. It’s a person we know who is alleged to be harmed,’’ she says.

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The Salvation Army – along with dozens of other organisations – provide services to victims of domestic violence, and can see how lock downs and locked doors are increasing risks for many.

“We provide services to these women. We see them and hear those personal stories and we worry about them.’’

They are not disputing lockdowns, just pleading for help. In homes, where the front door is shut, it’s easier to exercise control.

“One of the key messages is that you can leave lockdown for family violence. Some women may not understand that,’’ she says.

Friends and colleagues also need to think creatively. It might not be as possible to catch up for coffee, during pandemic, but there are other ways: a walk, a phone call, an email. Any contact is better than none.

Obviously the role for government here is enormous, and that might lead to coercive control laws and stronger jail terms and even better rehabilitation programs for that small group of perpetrators who want to seek help.

But for organisations like the Salvation Army, there’s another simple request. They need funds to help those women.

And that help must be commensurate with the increase in strangulations, bashings, assaults and breaches that are not only proved by court statistics, but that should make us all demand action.

*DVConnect is a 24-hour helpline. Its number is 1800 811 811

 

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