❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Minister about the lack of information regarding the GPS tracking trial for FDV offenders, highlighting concerns about escalating FDV rates. The Minister responds with condolences and outlines the government's commitment and investment in addressing FDV, but doesn't directly answer the questions.
AnsweredQoN 574Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE OFFENDERS — GPS TRACKING
574. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Prevention of Family
and Domestic Violence:
I refer to the answer provided in the other place yesterday
regarding the two-year trial involving the GPS tracking of up to 100 high-risk
offenders who have breached a family violence restraining order and committed a
further act of family violence. It is understood that the trial ended on 18 August
2022.
With the level of FDV continuing to escalate in Western Australia,
how is it that over a year after the program has been completed the government
is unable to answer basic questions about the number of offenders involved, whether the program is still being continued, and,
most importantly, whether it achieved its goals in adding additional protection for women and children?
VIOLENCE OFFENDERS — GPS TRACKING
574. Ms L. METTAM to the Minister for Prevention of Family
and Domestic Violence:
I refer to the answer provided in the other place yesterday
regarding the two-year trial involving the GPS tracking of up to 100 high-risk
offenders who have breached a family violence restraining order and committed a
further act of family violence. It is understood that the trial ended on 18 August
2022.
With the level of FDV continuing to escalate in Western Australia,
how is it that over a year after the program has been completed the government
is unable to answer basic questions about the number of offenders involved, whether the program is still being continued, and,
most importantly, whether it achieved its goals in adding additional protection for women and children?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question. The prevention of family and domestic violence is an important issue
in our community. Tragically, women in Western Australia have lost their
lives recently. At the outset, I extend my condolences and sympathies to the
families of Lynn Cannon, Tiffany Woodley and Georgia Lyall. I also want to
extend my sympathies and thoughts to other victims of family and domestic
violence because we know, and it was made abundantly clear by Lynn Cannon's
family this morning, that every time we have one of these incidents, it is a huge
trigger for people who have experienced family and domestic violence. This
government's commitment to addressing the scourge of family and
domestic violence is absolutely clear.
In our six years of government, we have been committed to
making sure that this issue is not only front and centre in government
initiatives and in record government investment of over $200 million but also,
importantly, raised to the front of every single conversation around our
community. We stand by that, and we are proud of that. That conversation has to
keep going.
Not only do we have a record of investment to support victim–survivors
and primary prevention, but also we have a strong record of legislative reform
that seeks to support victims of family and domestic violence. Our record of
legislative reforms includes introducing things like shuttle conferencing so
victim–survivors do not have to face their abusers; automatically
recognising VROs from other Australian states; creating a new offence for
non-fatal strangulation; and creating serial violence offenders, an Australian
first, for those with multiple FDV offences. Of course, we are undertaking
legislative reforms around coercive control.
As the second Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic
Violence, I am absolutely proud of the commitment that this government makes to
this important issue in our community. I will continue that work on behalf of this
government.
question. The prevention of family and domestic violence is an important issue
in our community. Tragically, women in Western Australia have lost their
lives recently. At the outset, I extend my condolences and sympathies to the
families of Lynn Cannon, Tiffany Woodley and Georgia Lyall. I also want to
extend my sympathies and thoughts to other victims of family and domestic
violence because we know, and it was made abundantly clear by Lynn Cannon's
family this morning, that every time we have one of these incidents, it is a huge
trigger for people who have experienced family and domestic violence. This
government's commitment to addressing the scourge of family and
domestic violence is absolutely clear.
In our six years of government, we have been committed to
making sure that this issue is not only front and centre in government
initiatives and in record government investment of over $200 million but also,
importantly, raised to the front of every single conversation around our
community. We stand by that, and we are proud of that. That conversation has to
keep going.
Not only do we have a record of investment to support victim–survivors
and primary prevention, but also we have a strong record of legislative reform
that seeks to support victims of family and domestic violence. Our record of
legislative reforms includes introducing things like shuttle conferencing so
victim–survivors do not have to face their abusers; automatically
recognising VROs from other Australian states; creating a new offence for
non-fatal strangulation; and creating serial violence offenders, an Australian
first, for those with multiple FDV offences. Of course, we are undertaking
legislative reforms around coercive control.
As the second Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic
Violence, I am absolutely proud of the commitment that this government makes to
this important issue in our community. I will continue that work on behalf of this
government.
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