Kelly Wilkinson, 27, was found dead in the backyard of a Gold Coast home after allegedly being burned to death by her estranged partner Brian Johnston. Their three children were at home at the time.

Johnston, 34, was hospitalised after the incident, and faces charges including murder and breach of bail.

Palaszczuk told parliament the incident was “absolutely horrific” and Wilkinson’s death caused her “deep sadness”.

“That should never have to happen to anybody, anybody at all, and I do hope that justice is served,” Palaszczuk said.

Palaszczuk said the government’s work to prevent domestic and family violence “never ends”.

“Respect needs to start at home, respect needs to be in our schools it needs to be in the way we treat one another,” she said.

The Liberal National Party used question time to critique the government’s commitment to law reform and whether domestic violence was a priority.

Palaszczuk said Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman had commissioned Justice Margaret McMurdo, the former president of the Queensland Court of Appeal, to consider coercive control laws.

“The best thing we can do is let them get on with that work, and once again we will be leading the nation in that work,” Palaszczuk said.

Fentiman called on the LNP to consider the perspective of women, and victims of such violence, and criticised one Opposition frontbencher for questioning the broader campaign for safety and equality.