Domestic Violence

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:11): My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the Attorney-General provide an update on the recently commenced strangulation laws?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:11): It is with pleasure that I do so. For those unaware, as at 31 January this year, it is a criminal offence in South Australia to strangle someone. Nationally, the domestic violence data is alarming. Results for 2017-18 show that women more frequently experience physical assault perpetrated by men than other women, at 71.1 per cent. Consistent with national data on violence against women, the perpetrator of the violence was more commonly someone known to the woman, rather than a stranger. Further, the known perpetrator was most frequently an intimate partner, and the location was most commonly a residential property that was generally the victim's home. Around one in five female victims of physical assault lived with the perpetrator.

Evidence also alarmingly linked strangulation to being a precursor for homicide and being a signifier of domestic abuse, often unable to be prosecuted properly without a stand-alone offence. In passing the domestic violence reforms through this very parliament last year, the government took a strong stance on perpetrators of domestic violence and showed them that this government and our communities absolutely do not stand for violence in the home.

In working for this legislation, over 700 people from the general public provided feedback. These comments were overwhelmingly supportive of an offence of strangulation, with many respondents citing their own personal horrific experiences. Since the end of January, when this law came into effect, I have been notified of three separate charges laid against potential perpetrators of strangulation, with one being charged the very next day after the laws were commenced.

I am incredibly pleased to see South Australia Police using this offence and thank them for their assistance in developing the laws. As a government, we believe domestic violence is utterly unacceptable in any form, and these new laws will go one step further in protecting vulnerable people and will ensure that those who do the wrong thing will face the full force of the law.