Domestic and Family Violence

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:30): I take this opportunity to speak, albeit briefly, on the Social Development Committee inquiry into domestic and family violence. The committee, of which I am a member, inquired into domestic and family violence, sitting through many hours of evidence, examining the effectiveness of current national and South Australian domestic and family violence policies, programs, legislative frameworks and court processes. The reality is that domestic and family violence is, to quote from the summary in the report:

…one of the most prevalent, pervasive, harmful, yet relatively hidden and often ignored forms of abuse.

It is a violation of basic human rights that can have long-term and intergenerational, psychological emotional and financial consequences. It is disruptive to employment and education, and often results in social and economic isolation, homelessness and, tragically, in some cases, even death.

The abuse can be in the form of physical violence, psychological and emotional abuse, threats, control and financial disempowerment. Research reveals that children exposed to family and domestic violence can result in them being more likely to follow in the footsteps of the abusive parent as an adult. It then becomes a vicious cycle where everyone loses; the family, the community and society.

It is significant that today, the day that the report was noted in this place, is Youth Homelessness Matters Day. Figures reveal that more than 45 per cent of homeless youth find themselves in that situation as a result of family and domestic violence. I would just like to quote from their website:

Although the majority of young homeless people have left home, it is rarely their fault. 70 per cent of young people experiencing homelessness are escaping a negative home environment, which is often fostered through an unsupportive, abusive, violent or broken home.

It is vital that we understand and recognise that domestic and family violence are significant factors that contribute to youth homelessness. Figures reveal that more than 45 per cent of homeless youth find themselves in that situation as a result of family and domestic violence. Throughout their lives, it can impact on their capacity to learn, build relationships, manage emotions and develop coping strategies.

We know that preventing, addressing and responding to domestic violence presents a challenge to the community—to our whole community. The committee recognises that there are unique consequences for different sections of our community exposed to this, in particular women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, women and girls with a disability, women living in regional, rural and remote areas, and Aboriginal women.

We are faced with shocking figures that reveal that annually in Australia between 80 and 100 women lose their lives at the hands of their partners or former partners. That is one to two women every week who die, and more than seven women each month—women whose families are left behind with the heartache of knowing that it did not have to be that way, children without a mother or a grandmother, parents without their daughter, and siblings without their sister, scarred for life, often from knowing and not being able to do anything, or thinking they couldn't do anything, or not knowing and not understanding why it was kept from them. The damage is ongoing.

In South Australia since 2008, 23 women and two children have been killed. As a society, we must do all we can to prevent domestic and family violence. The state government is leading the way in responding to domestic and family violence with the multiagency protection service (MAPS), the Family Safety Framework, and the common risk assessment tool, all of which are achieving positive outcomes.

Key messages from the committee's investigation into the effectiveness of current services and program initiatives in South Australia are that more needs to be done to prevent domestic and family violence from occurring in the first instance, and that strategic, coordinated and targeted services delivery responses are needed to support the most vulnerable victims.

And while abuse can be suffered in all forms of relationship and kinship settings, evidence received by the committee indicates that violence and abuse is more often than not perpetrated by men against women. There is no doubt that effective and culturally-appropriate programs are necessary to re-educate and address the needs of men who are perpetrators of violence against women, and importantly men and women need to be united in the goal of ending domestic and family violence.

Time expired.