Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, $998,989,000

Administered Items for the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, $184,930,000

Membership:

Ms Chapman substituted for Mr Gardner.

Mr Knoll substituted for Mr Tarzia.

Minister:

Hon. G.E. Gago, Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers.

Departmental Advisers:

Ms J. Mazel, Chief Executive, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms V. Swan, Director, Office for Women.

Mr A. Thompson, Executive Director, Financial Services, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms N. Rogers, Director, Business Affairs, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms F. Mort, Manager, Policy, Office for Women.

Mr C. Ellershaw, Director, Financial Services, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

Ms A. Barclay, Chief of Staff.

Ms G. Lewis, Ministerial Adviser.

The CHAIR: We are now dealing with the minister in her capacity as the Minister for the Status of Women. I declare the proposed payments open for examination and I refer members to Agency Statements, Volume 1.

Ms CHAPMAN: Before we start, can we record the apology to the committee for the moment by the member for Adelaide. She has been called away to a government briefing on today's events.

The CHAIR: Thank you, member for Bragg. I call on the Minister for the Status of Women to make a statement if the minister wishes.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I would like to take this opportunity to make just a few very brief opening remarks: 2014 marks a major milestone for South Australia as we celebrate 120 years of women's suffrage and our state's proud history of women's empowerment. As Minister for the Status of Women I am honoured to be part of a government that is committed to ensuring that South Australia is a safe, equitable and inclusive community.

Over the past 12 months, I am pleased to report that a number of significant initiatives have been undertaken to support this commitment. On 1 July 2014, women held just over 48 per cent of positions and 42 per cent of chair positions on government boards and committees. We provided 25 scholarships for women to attend training delivered by the Australian Institute of Company Directors. I presented the Women Hold Up Half the Sky Award to Ms Tam Boakes for her support of the music industry in South Australia, and with the Governor celebrated the 20 outstanding recipients of the South Australian Women's Honour Roll.

This year the Office for Women has also focused on encouraging education, training and employment for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics due to the low representation of women. We have continued to strive to ensure women can live in a safe community free from violence through our A Right to Safety agenda evidenced by the completion of the statewide rollout of the Family Safety Framework to support those women who are assessed to be at high risk of domestic violence; forming violence against women collaborations to aid local efforts to promote cultural and attitudinal change about violence against women; reviews of 21 domestic violence-related deaths by the Senior Research Officer (Domestic Violence) in the Coroner's office; and the establishment of the Multi-Agency Protection Service, led by South Australia Police.

We are also providing ongoing financial support to Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS), and have committed to improving South Australian data keeping on domestic violence deaths. I am also pleased to announce that the Premier's Council for Women has two new co-chairs. We have new members Christine Zeitz and Amanda Blair. I want to thank the previous co-chairs, Emeritus Professor Anne Edwards and Ms Kate Gould, for their wonderful contribution to the council.

Finally, last year, I was pleased to recognise the 35^th anniversary of the Women's Information Service which continues to engage with South Australian women in person, on the phone and online. I am pleased now to welcome the examination of the budget papers.

Ms CHAPMAN: Pages 96 and 97 relate to this program specifically in the budget, and I will also be referring to Budget Paper 6 at page 28 for the purpose of the committee. In relation to the preceding 12 months, when I asked some questions on 1 July last year in this session, I asked you in respect of the consultation that you may or may not have had (at that stage you said you could not recall having being consulted but were confident that you would be) in respect of what action was being taken by the government to, in the future, manage Ms Jacqueline Davies.

She was a woman incarcerated at the Women's Prison. She had sustained month-long shackling, a practice which was roundly condemned by the Ombudsman at the time, and there was to be consideration by the government as to the response to that. My question today, first, is whether, in fact, there had been some other practice or, if Ms Davies is being held in some other facility, could you update the committee and confirm that you were consulted as the minister for women on this matter?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: A review has occurred. I have been advised that the Department for Correctional Services (DCS) contributes to safer communities by protecting the public, reducing reoffending and providing meaningful and targeted opportunities that address offending behaviour, which is critical to an offender's reintegration. It is widely recognised that women who offend often have multiple complex and interrelated needs, with many entering the correctional system with limited education, poor employment history, childcare responsibilities, often poor coping skills and experiences of childhood and adult abuse. Women offenders are also known to have significant social, physical, psychological, emotional and health needs that require recognition in all areas of the correctional system. An understanding of these needs is required to develop appropriate and effective responses to women who offend.

There is also a growing recognition of the different pathways into and out of offending for women rather than generic interventions designed to address male criminogenic needs. A gender-responsive approach is required, and information has been sought by DCS from external and internal stakeholders to ascertain and map out the correct services and programs available to women as offenders and to assist in gaining a better understanding of the profile of women offenders throughout the South Australian criminal system.

DCS set a 2013-14 target to develop an evidence-based framework to improve service delivery to female offenders, and this framework is under development and will support the provision of improved and targeted service delivery to female officers in addition to sustaining existing initiatives and the development of new strategies.

In 2013-14, I have been advised that DCS appointed the Principal Adviser, Women Offenders to focus on the unique needs of female offenders and this role is currently in the final stages of development of a strategic framework and four-year action plan aimed at placing focus on improved and targeted service delivery for female offenders. In addition, the role is tasked with oversight and support of implementation of the strategic framework and four-year action plan. I am advised that Vanessa Swan, the Director of the Office for Women, is on the committee that is reviewing the women's experience of prison. She is also a member of the Parole Board and represents victims' perspectives, particularly, those of women.

Ms CHAPMAN: Is Ms Davies still at the prison and, in the last 12 months, has she been managed by being shackled?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: That is outside the purview of my portfolio. Those questions would need to be directed to the Minister for Correctional Services.

Ms CHAPMAN: I will ask the minister, then: as Ms Swan is on the committee that you have just indicated is reviewing the practices for this—

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Sorry, could you repeat that question?

Ms CHAPMAN: Ms Swan, who is sitting next to you, is a member of the committee that is reviewing the practices to deal with the multi-needs of the prisoners in this category. Have any of the prisoners been shackled in the last 12 months in the women's prison?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Are you asking me whether women are still being shackled in the prison?

Ms CHAPMAN: Yes.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I have just responded to you about the approach that prisons are taking. Any further questions would need to be directed to correctional services but, to the best of my knowledge, no.

Ms CHAPMAN: Are you satisfied—and this is what I asked last year—having been consulted, that you were one of the internal or external stakeholders that you have just referred to in that briefing statement?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Sorry, I am having trouble hearing you.

Ms CHAPMAN: You mentioned then that, when this consultation that took place, there were internal and external stakeholders. Was your office one of them?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I have just indicated that one of the officers for women on it liaises with my office.

Ms CHAPMAN: But, in any event, either she does not know what is going on or you just say you will not answer it?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: It is outside the purview of this portfolio. Any other details would most properly be directed to the Minister for Correctional Services.

The CHAIR: I agree. The member for Reynell has a question.

Ms HILDYARD: I refer the committee to Budget Paper 4, Agency Statements, Volume 1, page 97. Can the minister advise on the purpose of, and funding for, the Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, which has been created as part of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: In May this year I attended the launch of Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) as the national centre for excellence to reduce violence against women and their children is now known. As the member rightly said, ANROWS was created as a key component of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022, an initiative of all Australian governments.

Based in Sydney, ANROWS provides a central point for researchers, policymakers and practitioners in the fields of domestic, family and sexual violence to link up and provide evidence-based responses to reduce domestic, family and sexual violence. The previous co-chair of the South Australian Premier's Council for Women, Emeritus Professor Anne Edwards, was appointed the inaugural Chair of the centre. Professor Edwards, an expert in gender and sexual studies, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to ANROWS. Her contribution to the study of violence against women, and in particular, her research on sexual assault cases in the criminal justice system, has earned her a great deal of respect.

Ms Heather Nancarrow was appointed by the ANROWS board as the chief executive officer in December 2013. Ms Nancarrow has more than 30 years' experience working in domestic and family violence prevention and was previously director of the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research at Central Queensland University.

With the support of the commonwealth government and all state and territory governments, and after extensive consultation, a national research agenda covering areas of domestic, family and sexual violence has been endorsed. The agenda was launched in May 2014 and sets strategic directions and priorities for the ANROWS research program for the next few years. The agenda identifies four strategic research themes that align with the strategic priorities of the national plan. ANROWS strategic research themes are: experience and impacts, gender inequality and primary prevention, service responses and interventions, and systems such as the criminal justice and legal systems.

The first round of research funding is in progress with most projects being allocated through an open advertisement process. ANROWS will also be taking over responsibility for research dissemination and knowledge exchange which will be delivered from the ANROWS website from the middle of the year.

Taking a national approach to tackling violence against women and children is the only way to truly make a difference, and the centre will receive $1.5 million between 2013-14 and 2015-16 from the Australian government, with the states and territories providing matching funding and resources on a cost-shared basis. South Australia's contribution is $112,500 per annum indexed for inflation from the 2013-14 financial year.

Ms CHAPMAN: Page 97. One of the highlights is 'Completed the roll out of the Family Safety Framework' and you have referred to that again in your opening statement. Can the minister advise whether Zahra Abrahimzadeh and her family were receiving services from the framework between the time she first reported her husband's violent behaviour and when she was murdered, that being February 2009 to the date of death on 22 March 2010?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I am advised that the Family Safety Framework was not operating in her region at that time, so that was before.

Ms CHAPMAN: Of the Coroner's 10 recommendations from the inquest in respect of this murder—some of those I do not doubt are still under consideration by the government—my question is: have these recommendations been presented to the Premier's Council for Women?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: At present all the recommendations are currently being considered by the government. They were received by the State Coroner on 7 July 2014 and the government is yet to release a formal response which we will do via an across-government response to the 10 recommendations.

In relation to the referral to the Premier's Council for Women—I do not think it was the term you used, but it is equivalent—I know that the member knows only too well how the Premier's Council for Women set their agenda and how they determine via their own means those matters that they will consider. I do not believe that that is a matter that they have taken up for consideration. They have a process that enables them to identify an agenda where there might be opportunities for their degree of skills and expertise to offer the greatest input and influence to South Australia.

As I know the member understands, they are independent of government, they develop their own work plan, and I know that year after year I have come into estimates and explained this to the member for Bragg. That will be a matter for the council to determine whether they take that up as an active part of their agenda or not.

Ms CHAPMAN: I take it from that, minister, that you are not aware of the Premier’s Council for Women taking up the issue or requesting information at this point?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: They have certainly not requested any information from me and they have not indicated to me that they are actively taking that up as part of their agenda.

Ms CHAPMAN: Have you received the agenda of the issues that they do intend to take up in the current financial year?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Yes, I have.

Ms CHAPMAN: Can you tell the committee what are their priorities for this current 12 months?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: You are asking for the program priorities.

Ms CHAPMAN: Yes.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: They have just recently done a review. Their priorities are: women’s employment and economic status, leadership, women’s safety and/or violence against women, health and well being and women and disability. You have not asked but, in relation to employment and economic status, there are a range of particular actions and activities that I can list.

Ms CHAPMAN: Sure, that is fine. Topics are fine. Minister, that obviously includes safety and violence against women. I appreciate that you make this comment about them being independent, and each year I acknowledge that but recognise, however, that it is of course open to you or the Premier to indicate areas that you might want advice on, whether it is in relation to legislation or some policy of the government.

At this point, to the best of your knowledge, the Abrahimzadeh coronial recommendations have not been referred? I particularly ask because you have proudly confirmed to us again this year that you have had a research worker working in the Coroner’s office to explore more in-depth the number of deaths—21, I think you said in your opening statement—relating to violence perpetrated on women. Hence I ask whether it is your intention to refer these recommendations and seek advice in this extensive consultation that the Premier intends to undertake.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I have already indicated to the member how the Premier’s Council for Women sets its agenda. In terms of the government’s responsibility around the 10 recommendations that were recently handed down by the Coroner, a very intensive and extensive across-government process is being undertaken to ensure that all areas of government are certainly doing the very best that they can to address violence against women and their children.

Ms CHAPMAN: As the Premier’s Council for Women has identified safety and violence against women as one of their three priorities for this current year, do I take it that you will therefore ensure that they are properly included in the list for consultation for the response to the recommendations?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I have already answered the question several times now in terms of how the Premier’s Council for Women determines its agenda. If they believe that is best use of their time, they will no doubt refer the matter, consider it and advise us accordingly. If they do not, they will not. I have already explained that several times today and I think in every other estimates we have always spent this incredibly arduous amount of time going over what issues the council does and does not take up. As I have indicated every single year, it is a matter for the council, but government, as I said, has undertaken a process to respond in full and provide a cross-government response to the Coroner in relation to those 10 recommendations.

Ms HILDYARD: I refer the committee to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 97. Can the minister explain what work is happening to encourage women to seek employment in non-traditional occupations such as in the fields of science and technology, engineering and mathematics?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: In 2010 the South Australian government committed to the development of a promotional campaign to encourage women to access training and education pathways to employment in high demand, high growth, non-traditional industries such as mining, defence and construction. Recognising the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in these fields, the Office for Women has focused on encouraging education, training and employment in these areas that also have a low representation of women.

The South Australian government has developed a STEM Skills Strategy for South Australia to develop a workforce that is well versed in science, technology, engineering and maths (known as STEM). The strategy seeks to establish partnerships between education, industry, government and the community to grow the number of STEM-based professional, para-professional and trade-qualified individuals by 2020. STEM Australia is the online component of the South Australian STEM Skills Strategy.

Launched in January 2014, STEM Australia brings together information that is relevant and tailored to individuals and organisations. There are activities and resources to help students at school as well as links to events on teacher professionalism development courses and career open days that companies can become involved with.

The Office for Women worked extensively with the then department of further education, employment, science and technology to ensure that there was a focus on women throughout the website. The Office for Women has also developed a web community specifically for women; Women in STEM focuses on how to attract and retain women in STEM employment and includes information on mentoring and support networks for women, access to programs for young women, and how to address stereotypes and the myth that women are not interested in STEM. STEM Australia be found online under STEM Australia.

The Office for Women and the Australian Office of the Chief Scientist are also working together to develop potential initiatives to increase participation of women in STEM at a national level. In January 2014, the South Australian government launched Investing in Science: an Action Plan for Prosperity through Science, Research and Innovation. Recognising the key role that science, research and innovation play in supporting our economy, Investing in Science includes seven key pillars of action that complement the government's seven strategic priorities.

Exposing girls to successful female role models and the options available to them can help counter negative stereotypes, because girls can see that people like them can be successful. STEM careers are not all about heavy machinery and oily overalls; there is a broad range of STEM career choices available to everyone, including young women.

Ms CHAPMAN: I refer to page 97. Under Targets, minister, there is a campaign to confront body image issues in South Australia for girls seven to 12. How much money has been allocated for that?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: During our March election campaign we made a commitment to inspire young women to build their self-esteem and love their bodies, as the goal of a new digital media campaign about body image. Mission Australia's annual youth survey consistently identifies body image as one of the top three concerns for young Australians aged between 11 and 24. In South Australia this survey identified that 42.1 per cent of females identified body image as being a major concern compared to 14.4 per cent of males. Obviously factors such as culture, personal relationships and community attitudes, including media representation of women, all play an important role in both the development and prevention of body image issues.

In 2013, New York City in the United States launched a very successful public education campaign aimed at girls aged between seven and 12 around self-esteem and body image. So, we have based this program on that. We are obviously going to tailor it to fit South Australian young girls and $15,000 has been made available to support this campaign. WIS will partner with the YWCA of Adelaide and other government and non-government organisations, such as the Butterfly Foundation, Women's Services, SA Health, DSD, the Department for Education and Child Development, local government and the Office for Youth to put this project together.

Ms CHAPMAN: We will look forward to that campaign. In the meantime, you would have heard that the Lingerie Football League is coming to Adelaide; in fact they are currently recruiting young women from Adelaide. Have you or your department made any representations to this organisation, which proposes televising this, I think, on Channel 7?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I am aware that they are coming to South Australia, which is most unfortunate. I understand that they conduct this women's gridiron football competition, based on an American concept, in a number of other states. I think it was founded as the Lingerie Football League and then rebranded in January 2013. I know they have met with criticism regarding the uniforms that players are required to wear and the marketing of the competition, with critics concerned that it sexualises and objectifies women in sport.

The Australian Sports Commission and other organisations have raised concerns about the way the LFL sexualises and objectifies women. The notion that there is only one way for women in sport to get mainstream media coverage is by flaunting their bodies and exposing themselves does not send a positive message to women, and young women in particular.

My understanding is that the Office for Recreation and Sport in South Australia is committed to implementing strategies to address the gender imbalance in sport through its Women in Sport initiatives and by developing greater opportunities for women, and that is obviously undermined by LFL's sexualisation of women's bodies for profit. However, I would direct the same criticism to a number of other sports, including beach volleyball. It is interesting to look at the difference in the costumes that women in beach volleyball wear compared to that of men; they are extremely skimpy. Again, I think it is most unfortunate. I think it is quite distasteful, and it lacks judgement and good taste.

I understand there have been attempts by one body to modify the costumes that were being worn, and such like, using occ health and safety grounds, and I think some of that has met with very limited change. My understanding is that unfortunately it does not breach any current provisions within current guidelines. I have not written to them and I did not intend to write to them. I think the best message is for people not to give them any further publicity and vote with their feet and simply not attend and support those sorts of events.

Ms CHAPMAN: Having not made a statement publicly on it, minister, are you aware that the proposed playing of this event (of the women in bikini wear, as has been described) is to take place at the Hindmarsh Stadium, which is now managed by the government's board, the Entertainment Centre Board?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Sorry, what was the question?

Ms CHAPMAN: Are you aware that the proposed venue for this event in South Australia is to be at the Hindmarsh Stadium?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: No, I was not aware of where they were going to play it.

Ms CHAPMAN: Which is managed by the Entertainment Centre Board. Having been made aware, minister, do you propose to take up this issue with the government?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I am happy to give it further thought, but my view is that it is only one of many sports—this is not an exception—that sexualises women. This government is not about outlawing those—they do not breach any particular standards. They are within current legal and regulatory parameters. I find them offensive. I had not intended to take the matter further, but I am happy to give it some further thought. I think the way to deal with these groups is not to give them further publicity, because they thrive on public controversy—that does their business well. My view is that you just do not support them, you vote with your feet and just do not attend.

Ms CHAPMAN: That may be effective, minister, but having brought it to your attention, it is not a question of its being illegal—we can all have a view about its being inappropriate and certainly inconsistent with the message that women have an opportunity to pursue and achieve in sport without having to run around in bikinis, especially if they are playing gridiron or something of that nature—but it is just that the venue itself that is providing the forum for this to occur—it is a bit like any other government institutionally managed venue—has a choice about what would be played or viewed at its venue. In any event, it is a matter of taking it up with the minister in charge of the venue, if you are prepared to do that.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I have already answered the question. I said that I am happy to give it further thought, and I will.

Ms HILDYARD: I refer the committee to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 97. The Family Safety Framework is a successful initiative, with implementation now in Alice Springs and the model now also being used for New South Wales safety action meetings. Can the minister update us on the South Australian implementation?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The Family Safety Framework, an initiative of the Women's Safety Strategy, seeks to ensure that services to families most at risk of violence are dealt with in a more structured and systematic way through agencies sharing information about high-risk families, and taking responsibility for supporting these families to navigate this service system. The Family Safety Framework involves family safety meetings held at the local level, focusing on individual high-risk cases and common risk assessment to ensure consistency in the assessment of high-risk cases.

The complete statewide rollout of this important initiative was completed in November 2013, with the implementation of family safety meetings in Whyalla and the Fleurieu/Kangaroo Island regions. From initial trial sites in 2007, family safety meetings have now been implemented in 19 regions, with six metropolitan and 13 regional meetings across South Australia. In the 2013-14 financial year 458 family safety meetings were held, with a total number of 604 new referrals.

Critical to the ongoing success of the framework is the provision of administrative support for the Victim Support Service. From 2012-13 this support has been funded through $100,000 per annum from the Victims of Crime Fund, and $20,000 per annum from South Australia Police. While the framework has been rolled out across South Australia, work is continuing to ensure that it is effective and consistent. This work is supported by an implementation committee made up of core government and non-government agencies that are involved in the framework at the local level.

The success of the framework has been recognised through the implementation of very similar models in the Northern Territory and New South Wales. Alice Springs implemented the Family Safety Framework in July 2012 and recently the Office for Women and agencies in the Northern Territory have worked together with the development of cross-border referral protocols for the framework.

Work has also commenced in New South Wales for the implementation of the safety action meetings similar in focus to the South Australian model. The Office for Women in South Australia is providing support to the Department of Police and Justice and women in New South Wales who are leading this work. The Office for Women has supported agencies in both jurisdictions in relation to this implementation, and this collaborative work supports strategies of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and Children through ensuring consistency of service provision to women experiencing high and imminent threats to their lives through domestic violence.

Ms CHAPMAN: On that fund, I assumed that your office was making some contribution, but this is all funded from the Victims of Crime fund?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: That is right; and those others, such as the police. I outlined the contributions that others were making.

Ms CHAPMAN: Yes, but the actual funding of the program, the framework, is through the Victims of Crime fund, as you have indicated. Given the Abrahimzadeh coronial inquiry and the shortcomings identified, did you agree that the framework should be led by the SA police?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The framework has been extremely successful to date. I am just reminded that it is led by the Office for Women.

Ms CHAPMAN: Sorry–it is led by? I understood it was a program of the SA police department.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: It is led by the Office for Women. That is where it began or commenced, as a policy direction. However, SAPOL plays a very key role in the ongoing management of it. In fact they chair, I think, most of the meetings and obviously in terms of service they are often very much the first port of call in identifying victims. They play a very key role in that, and we have very much appreciated their preparedness to step into this space and to work with other agencies at ensuring that this model has been able to be rolled out to all areas in South Australia now, including the APY. It is in fact so successful that it is now being picked up by other jurisdictions. It works extremely well, particularly in identifying and assisting those women who are assessed at high risk of domestic or family violence.

Ms CHAPMAN: Just so I am clear then, because I had understood this to be a program that had been an idea initiated by the Office for Women, it is actually funded by, chaired by and led by the South Australian police? Other representatives from other agencies are there, but is there an officer from the Office for Women at the meetings, or did I get that wrong?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Sorry, what was that last comment?

Ms CHAPMAN: Is there a member from your office, the Office for Women, at these meetings as part of the team?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The Office for Women rolled out the implementation—

Ms CHAPMAN: Yes, I have acknowledged that.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: No, I have not finished yet. You still may know what I am about to say, but let's leave the telepathic capabilities alone. The Office for Women actually did roll out all of the implementation in all regions. They attended, set up the meetings, provided all the training and established those meetings. My understanding is that they do not attend each meeting, but go back and revisit areas to assist if issues have been raised or just to see how those meetings are going, particularly in the regions. I understand that an officer from the office would attend from time to time just to see if any further training needs to occur and how things are going—problem-solving. The funding from this comes from the Victims of Crime Fund which is attached to the A-G's not the police. The police are contributing $20,000 but the bulk of the funding actually comes from the state government.

Ms CHAPMAN: Well, excuse me, from victims of crime and offenders' payments/levies—

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Managed by the Attorney-General.

Ms CHAPMAN: —hardly government but nevertheless. The position at the moment—and I may have this wrong—from what you have said the Office for Women was instrumental in setting up and reviewing this program but the actual meetings are chaired by a police officer in the local town or in the local community and there are other agencies represented at those meetings to discuss particular families that are at risk, etc. That is my understanding. Is that right?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Yes, I have already put on the record that in most cases the police chair these and I have already put on the record that they involve crossagency participation so I am repeating myself.

Ms CHAPMAN: Those cross-agencies do not include the Office for Women being represented.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I have already outlined quite clearly for the record what the role of Office for Women is—

Ms CHAPMAN: I will take it as a no then.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —in these meetings, including in an ongoing capacity. We are just repeating ourselves and wasting the time—

Ms CHAPMAN: Sure, I accept that, minister.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —the precious time, the good time, of the members of this chamber.

Ms CHAPMAN: Budget Paper 6, four years to fund the Domestic Violence Gateway to operate a domestic violence serial offender database. Are you satisfied with the funding that is available at $72,000 to do that?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The recommendation that domestic violence services develop a database of domestic violence perpetrators, particularly a database that can identify serial offenders, was one of the findings from the Hayward and Durance inquest handed down by the Coroner in January 2011. The database will enable the identification of domestic violence serial offenders across women's domestic and Aboriginal family violence services.

Ms CHAPMAN: Excuse me, Madam Acting Chair, I am sorry to interrupt the minister. Could you identify that again? Was that the inquiry for Edwin Raymond Durance?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Hayward and Durance handed down by Deputy State Coroner Anthony Schapel in January 2011.

Ms CHAPMAN: 2011 or 2012?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: 2011, I have here on advice. That has just been revised to 2012.

Ms CHAPMAN: Thank you.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: As I said, this paper has incorrect information on it. The database will enable the identification of domestic violence serial offenders. The development of a serial offender database was a 2014 state election commitment and supports the government's key strategic priorities. The government approved funding to the Domestic Violence Gateway, a non-government organisation, to develop, host and manage the domestic violence serial offender database.

The gateway is a primary entry point to all women's domestic violence and Aboriginal family violence services in this state. The funding package includes once-off funding of $40,000 in 2014-15 for the development of the database and a recurrent budget of $10,000 per annum indexed from 2015-16 for data entry and things like searching, training, technical assistance and suchlike.

The contract for the funding has not yet been signed but considerable work has been progressed. It will be between the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion and the Domestic Violence Gateway.

Ms CHAPMAN: Are you satisfied that it is reasonable that this recommendation of the Coroner to have this database—which was made 2½ years ago—has taken so long? In fact, the contract obviously will go out hopefully this year and be in place by at least the start of the beginning of the next financial year with some funding to then operate at $10,000 a year—that has been said. This was a case again, I think it is fair to say, of shameful neglect on behalf of a number of the police services in which Robyn Hayward was killed by Mr Durance and he was ultimately shot by the police. These are events that took place in 2009. I note we do not yet have the Bail Act amendments, and a number of other things. You are the advocate for women in cabinet: are you happy with this sort of delay?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The recommendation in 2012 from the Coroner was that domestic violence services and agencies throughout South Australia be encouraged to maintain individual records in relation to serial or repeat domestic violence perpetrators. At that time, individual agencies established databases around cases referred to or serviced by that agency. Considerable work was developed then but each agency had their own individual database. Because of privacy, and all sorts of problems, it is very hard to connect. These are people, as you know, who are not charged with an offence—these are allegations—so it is a very challenging space to work within.

That work was commenced many years ago in relation to the Coroner's work, and individual agencies did, I am advised, develop those databases. This now seeks to connect and have those agencies be able to share and talk with each other, which is really a further development. It is not as if, as you are suggesting, no work was done to progress that issue. Considerable work has been done in what you, with your legal background, I know, would appreciate is a very difficult place.

Ms CHAPMAN: Is there legislation—

The CHAIR: Member for Bragg, the member for Reynell has so many questions, I should give her one.

Ms HILDYARD: I refer the committee to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 96. Could the minister explain what initiatives are being implemented to respond to domestic violence in South Australia and how the Coroner's position has contributed to outcomes to prevent domestic violence?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: This government has, as indeed have I, stated repeatedly that it takes the issue of violence against women, including domestic violence in our community, seriously and is committed to preventing these horrendous crimes. The SA Strategic Plan embeds this commitment by specifically targeting the significant and sustained reduction in violence against women as a target for this state. The Right to Safety agenda encapsulates the key strategies that this government has put in place to achieve this very important target, and this includes statewide implementation of the Family Safety Framework and, as I said, now sees 19 family safety meetings operating every fortnight to take action for those at high or imminent risk of harm or death.

The other includes the placement of a senior research officer (domestic violence) within the Coroner's Office to assist in the investigation of deaths within a domestic violence context in order to identify systemic improvements. To date, this position has reviewed over 100 homicides, suicides or multiple fatality deaths and contributed to four completed coronial inquests into deaths which have had a domestic violence context. Both the State Coroner and Deputy State Coroner have heard and delivered findings in these inquests and made over 30 recommendations for systemic improvement to assist in preventing these deaths. These inquests have provided a thorough review of systems and mechanisms in this state which aim to improve responses and prevent domestic violence.

Recommendations coming from the coroners, assisted by the senior research officer (domestic violence), have included the implementation of the Family Safety Framework into the Murray Mallee region and, ultimately, implementation statewide. As a result of this, the Coroner recognised the Family Safety Framework as an important and embedded formal system with the potential to prevent deaths from occurring.

Several more recommendations have been directed at agencies improving their training with regard to risk assessment and referral processes for family safety meetings, as well as improving responses to disclosures of domestic violence or breaching of orders. These recommendations recognise the importance of agencies working closely with police. The Deputy State Coroner also made recommendations that domestic violence services develop a quick way to track and monitor serial offenders of domestic violence and this is now funded and being developed as a statewide mechanism to assist in the assessment of risk.

The findings and recommendations from the inquest into the death of Zahra Abrahimzadeh were released by the State Coroner on 7 July 2014. The findings were directed to the Premier to oversee, in recognition that domestic violence is a key priority for the South Australian government. There were 10 recommendations in total, as we have already noted here today. These related to South Australia Police operations including improved front-line responses and prosecution processes, through to increased training for cadets and an automatic flagging of domestic violence safe houses. This initiative is an important part of a Right to Safety agenda and the findings and recommendations to date have vastly assisted our ability to review and refine current practices and develop new ones where gaps have been identified by the Coroner.

Ms CHAPMAN: Minister, under the government's announcement about getting rid of boards and committees, does the Premier's Council for Women have to present a submission to the Premier, as with other government boards, to put the case for their continued existence?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Yes, that is right. The Premier has indicated that all boards and committees will be abolished in October. A process has been put in place where the boards are encouraged to present a case in terms of reasons they should continue, the sorts of benefits they might bring to the state and whether they wanted to consider any improvements or changes to their terms of reference or membership or the like—all boards and committees, I understand.

Ms CHAPMAN: Have they put in a submission, minister?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: To date, not that I am aware of, but I am sure they will.

Ms CHAPMAN: There was another announcement, minister, prior to the election in which the government proposed that they would require perpetrators of domestic violence to pay for the rehabilitation courses that they may be required to undertake. Obviously there is a concern that there is not much out there in terms of rehabilitation for people perpetrating domestic violence, certainly not in our prison system. I think there was a trial referred to in Corrections estimates, which confirmed that there had been a trial of a particular program, but it has not continued at this point. My question is: has that policy commenced? Are perpetrators obliged to pay for the cost of their programs for rehabilitation?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: We have obviously given a policy commitment in relation to that, but I understand there may need to be legislative changes to actually bring that into place. That work is being done now and advice is being sought. Again, it would seem a simple act to require perpetrators to pay, but apparently, because they are orders that are being given, there are complexities around that that need to be sorted through.

It is those who have the capacity to pay who we are looking at. Obviously if a person cannot afford to pay, we are not going to exclude them from rehabilitation. There are community service commitments that we can look at as an alternative, but the funds that we hope to derive from that are intended to be used to expand perpetrator programs out to country areas where we would like to see more. Of course the state government provides funding to ANROWS and is strongly committed to its future and success, and ANROWS is also doing work in that perpetrator program space that hopefully will inform the sorts of programs we provide here in South Australia.

Ms CHAPMAN: If I could just conclude on this: of those, are you aware of what programs there are available for perpetrator rehabilitation in domestic violence in Adelaide at present?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I have actually visited some of them.

Ms CHAPMAN: Yes. Who provides them?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I do not have that list with me now in terms of which agencies provide what particular courses and they do change from time to time, but we do provide a number of courses here.

Ms CHAPMAN: I accept that you may not have that at your fingertips, but if there is a list of identified programs and who provides them for domestic violence perpetrator rehabilitation, counselling programs and the like, I would appreciate it if that could be provided to the committee at the earliest convenience.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The Office for Women does not provide those courses. They are conducted either by the Attorney-General or Corrections so you would need to ask them for that information.

Ms CHAPMAN: I am happy to do that—

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Good, excellent.

Ms CHAPMAN: This is part of the problem, isn't it? You are in charge of protecting women to the extent of it being an important part of the charter of your portfolio. You are supporting a policy of introducing a remunerative response from perpetrators of the cost of their rehabilitation, but it seems your agency does not have this information about what is out there. On the information I have, for example, from the Parole Board—

The CHAIR: Member for Bragg, is there a further question?

Ms CHAPMAN: Yes, I am asking her whether she is aware of any of these programs.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I have answered that question already.

The CHAIR: You have answered that question and we are getting into some very important other business.

Ms CHAPMAN: I will take that as a no then, thank you.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: It is an absolute nonsense that this agency does not know what is going on. I am the Minister for the Status of Women and champion for women. Just about every portfolio and policy matter influence women in some way—housing, health, industrial relations, you name it. Obviously the Office for Women is not responsible for all that legislation and all those agencies. What I assist in is coordinating across-government responses to these things and making sure that the appropriate areas of government are providing strong and good services for women.

The CHAIR: Thank you, minister. There being no further questions, I declare the examination of the proposed payments for the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion and administered items for the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion adjourned.