Question Time

Domestic and Family Violence

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (15:18): My question is to the Acting Premier. Does the government support a royal commission into domestic and family violence? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: Between 15 and 21 November 2023, four women in South Australia were killed, allegedly at the hands of men known to them, in what has been described as the worst week for fatal domestic violence in our nation's history. SAPOL statistics also show family and domestic abuse related offences have soared, jumping by over 18 per cent over the past two years—the equivalent of five extra offences per day.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water) (15:18): This is, of course, an extraordinarily important topic and has been spoken about in this chamber already, very movingly, by the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence.

The request for a consideration of a royal commission is being taken very seriously by this government because of who has made the suggestion. These are advocates who have worked, often for most of their careers, trying to address domestic and family violence and they have requested that we consider this option.

Whether in fact a royal commission, which of course is not only expensive but takes a significant length of time, is the most appropriate course will be determined in due course by both the Premier and the minister with a discussion at the cabinet level. What we have determined is to spend a period of time with the sector. The Premier and the minister will have a meeting with the leaders of the sector and perhaps some other relevant ministers to discuss the issues before too long and work out a path forward collaboratively and together.

I note that the Liberal opposition have already proposed an alternative. They have written to the Social Development Committee and suggested that that might be a place to have an inquiry. I further note that there was an inquiry not too many years ago undertaken by that committee. Nonetheless, it is again a suggestion that is worthy of consideration. We will take the time to make sure that we are talking properly with the sector.

Specifically about this suggestion, I know that the minister spends an enormous amount of time in the sector and knows this area of public policy extraordinarily well. I also know that the Minister for Human Services, of course, interacts significantly with that sector. I myself spent an hour yesterday at a forum on coercive control, to which I was invited by a community organisation from my electorate, so many of us spend time. But a particularly focused discussion about this, I think, is of merit and ought to be undertaken with proper weight and consideration.