Domestic and Family Violence

Mrs POWER (Elder) (14:57): Can the Attorney update the house on the progress of the government's election commitment to deliver additional crisis beds for women and children experiencing domestic violence?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:57): I have pleasure to advise the house on this matter, and I thank the member for Elder, who is our Assistant Minister for Domestic and Family Violence. For myself, I am very proud to work with her in this area, and again I place on the record my appreciation to the Premier for making this appointment.

It is a very strong statement of two things that are a priority for the Premier and this government, and that is to reduce the incidence of domestic violence, and in addition to that we want to better support those who are victims of it. Perhaps even more important, we want to make sure that there are practical ways of providing that assistance, and here is what we have been doing, and I will give the house an update:

the establishment of the 24/7 Women's Safety Crisis Hotline continues to be well received, and, of course, it is now 24/7;

the extension of the safety hubs in regional South Australia. This is to provide information and referrals for women and their children so that they have access to local support in the communities in which they live. And whilst the members interject, I reiterate that this is an extension of that safety hub service;

the establishment of the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service, now within the Legal Services Commission, which of course acts as another provision of services and which provides the victims with specialist legal support to apply for intervention orders and tenancy agreements and navigate the processes of magistrates courts. I would hope that the members who are busy interjecting might note that, because it is a very significant advance on the services that were previously provided;

the creation of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme has now received 316 applications by 31 December last year. Members might recall that this is a disclosure scheme which really enables the police to provide information to parties to make decisions about whether or not they remain in a relationship. It is an important initiative for those persons and children in the families thereof;

the introduction of new laws in relation to domestic violence giving authorities greater tools including that strangulation is now a standalone offence.

I have just read in the last few days updated information as to the numbers, which are now in the hundreds of cases, that have been charged in that regard. I am getting an update, and I am happy to advise the house in due course when I have particulars of the ultimate data, but I can say that at least one has already sustained a conviction. There are tougher penalties on repeated breaches of the intervention orders.

In relation to the 40-bed domestic violence crisis accommodation, the first of the eight, can I say, has opened in North Adelaide; another six in southern Adelaide will open next month; 17 beds in the Limestone Coast, Murray Mallee and Eyre Peninsula will be opened in the regional areas; and the remaining nine will provide accommodation for the perpetrator crisis intervention pilot, which removes the offender from the family home thus allowing the partners and families to remain in the home, obviously in circumstances where it is safe to do so. That is necessary to ensure that as much as we can we minimise the disruption to their lives at such a traumatic time.

To ensure the beds are available as soon as possible the SA Housing Authority will refurbish and fit public housing properties with security upgrades so women can live independently but safely. It is intended that all these beds will be available by the end of April. In addition to the crisis accommodation, clients will receive services including intensive outreach support, helping managing safety issues and assistance into safe and sustainable accommodation. I commend the member for Elder. I thank her for her assistance and, indeed, her traversing the state to ensure that these amenities as they are introduced are fully operational and do provide this continued protection to women and children in our state.

The SPEAKER: The member for Florey, I respectfully call, member for Lee. I will come back to the opposition after that.