❓ Mrs Roberts questions the Minister for Police about domestic violence incidents and the Ombudsman's report on violence restraining orders. The Minister acknowledges the report and ongoing discussions with the Police Commissioner, but doesn't provide specific actions.
AnsweredQoN 1032Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDERS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
FATALITIES — OMBUDSMAN'S REPORT
1032. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the
Minister for Police:
I refer the minister to unprecedented crime growth figures,
including the 45 per cent increase in domestic violence incidents over the past
year, and last week's Ombudsman's report about violence
restraining orders and their relationship with 30 domestic violence fatalities.
(1) Has the
minister met with the Commissioner of Police about the Ombudsman's 22
recommendations directed to WA Police?
(2) If yes to
(1), what action will WA Police take on the Ombudsman's 22
recommendations directed to WA Police?
FATALITIES — OMBUDSMAN'S REPORT
1032. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the
Minister for Police:
I refer the minister to unprecedented crime growth figures,
including the 45 per cent increase in domestic violence incidents over the past
year, and last week's Ombudsman's report about violence
restraining orders and their relationship with 30 domestic violence fatalities.
(1) Has the
minister met with the Commissioner of Police about the Ombudsman's 22
recommendations directed to WA Police?
(2) If yes to
(1), what action will WA Police take on the Ombudsman's 22
recommendations directed to WA Police?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
This is a really important question on domestic violence, particularly on a day
like today, on which we honour the victims of domestic violence and take a
stand against violence against women. The member for Midland failed to mention
that the Ombudsman was pleased with the actions of WA Police over the time that
those incidents were being reviewed. Although there had been failures in the
past, the Ombudsman was pleased that WA Police had taken significant action to
improve its response to domestic violence incidents, and to improve the way
that police behave and react in protecting the victims of domestic violence.
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : I asked two specific questions. One was about whether
the minister had met with the Commissioner of Police about this, which the
minister has not answered. The second was: what action is WA Police taking
specifically to implement those 22 recommendations? I have not asked a general
question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
The Ombudsman's report was a significant body of work. It was released
last week, but it followed 18 months of research and investigation into the way
the state government manages domestic violence, from the perspective of both
the Department for Child Protection and Family Support and WA Police. I have
obviously spoken to the commissioner about the police response and
interrogation of that report. It is too early for us to be talking about the
actual responses that will be taken to it, but I will say that the Ombudsman
was pleased with the progress that WA Police made over the time that the
domestic violence incidents were being investigated. We can always improve our
response in the domestic violence space. It is not the responsibility only of
police.
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Fremantle, I have been quite lenient with you today. I call you to
order for the first time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
It is not the responsibility only of the police, the government and the
Department for Child Protection and Family Support, member for Girrawheen; it
is the responsibility also of people in the community to stand up for those
victims, and that is what White Ribbon Day is all about.
This is a really important question on domestic violence, particularly on a day
like today, on which we honour the victims of domestic violence and take a
stand against violence against women. The member for Midland failed to mention
that the Ombudsman was pleased with the actions of WA Police over the time that
those incidents were being reviewed. Although there had been failures in the
past, the Ombudsman was pleased that WA Police had taken significant action to
improve its response to domestic violence incidents, and to improve the way
that police behave and react in protecting the victims of domestic violence.
Point of Order
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : I asked two specific questions. One was about whether
the minister had met with the Commissioner of Police about this, which the
minister has not answered. The second was: what action is WA Police taking
specifically to implement those 22 recommendations? I have not asked a general
question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
The Ombudsman's report was a significant body of work. It was released
last week, but it followed 18 months of research and investigation into the way
the state government manages domestic violence, from the perspective of both
the Department for Child Protection and Family Support and WA Police. I have
obviously spoken to the commissioner about the police response and
interrogation of that report. It is too early for us to be talking about the
actual responses that will be taken to it, but I will say that the Ombudsman
was pleased with the progress that WA Police made over the time that the
domestic violence incidents were being investigated. We can always improve our
response in the domestic violence space. It is not the responsibility only of
police.
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Fremantle, I have been quite lenient with you today. I call you to
order for the first time.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
It is not the responsibility only of the police, the government and the
Department for Child Protection and Family Support, member for Girrawheen; it
is the responsibility also of people in the community to stand up for those
victims, and that is what White Ribbon Day is all about.
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