Domestic Violence Serial Offender Database

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:38): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about how the government is protecting South Australian women and children. Sadly, domestic violence occurs all too often. I understand a database has been established so government agencies can provide better protection to women from serial domestic violence offenders. Can the minister provide the chamber with more details about the Domestic Violence Serial Offender Database?

The 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) (14:39): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I am pleased to advise that the Domestic Violence Serial Offender Database, which was an election commitment by this government, is operational and the first of its kind in Australia.

This database is an extremely important measure which can be used to protect women and children from serial offenders of domestic violence. We know that the risk of women experiencing violence significantly increases if there has been a previous victim, and once an alleged offender is considered to be a repeat or serial offender this information is then provided to the relevant agency or agencies, where appropriate action can then be taken.

This database means that if a woman visits one of the state's 18 domestic violence services and informs the staff of the names of men listed on the database, then a more accurate assessment can be made and the right supports can be put in place for her immediately. We know that one of the biggest problems for women who are subject to domestic violence is that they can sometimes be hesitant, almost reluctant, to actually lodge a formal complaint, particularly with police, and can be reluctant to follow that process in the courts through to prosecution.

This database is a means of helping to ensure that there is an alert to relevant agencies when formal charges are made or intervention orders have been laid, or other complaints have come through domestic violence services. Up until now, it was certainly not easy to be able to identify if an offender was a serial offender. However, I am advised that several offenders who have been entered into the database have already been identified as repeat offenders.

The database is managed by the Domestic Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Gateway. The state government has provided $40,000 for its development, as well as $10,000 each year for data entry, searching, training and other technical assistance and reporting requirements. The domestic violence serial offender database is one of a suite of initiatives that this government has introduced to help combat domestic violence. Last year the Premier announced Taking a Stand as a whole of government response to the findings of the State Coroner into the inquest of the tragic Zahra Abrahimzadeh case.

Three direct policy responses are outlined in Taking a Stand, which are well on the way to being implemented. Commencing later in 2015, the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service will provide a greater level of support within the court system for victims of violence by providing assistance to women to deal successfully with the court system and increase their access to justice. We know often these women can be very intimidated by a formal court environment, so having assistance there often makes those services more accessible.

Legal officers will provide support and advocate on behalf of women who may have difficulty applying for an intervention order or reporting a breach of an intervention order, and the service will be free and confidential and will work closely with police prosecutors. The service will be funded by the Victims of Crime Fund.

The state government has introduced an early warning system which provides a circuit breaker in instances where a DV service provider does not believe that the most appropriate response to their client's situation has been received. It is designed to increase accountability and provide an escalation point where they have perhaps identified process flaws or gaps in the response of a government agency to domestic violence. This works very closely with the MAPS system which is already in place.

Women's domestic violence services and government service delivery agencies will advise the early warning officer of instances where the response of a government service delivery agency to domestic violence might compromise the safety of women who are victims of domestic violence. The early warning system is being introduced in a staged approach.

Finally, it is well recognised that workplaces play an important role in preventing violence against women. As such, all South Australian government departments will obtain a White Ribbon workplace accreditation and build on their existing domestic violence workplace policies in all government departments. The EO Commission of South Australia is leading that particular work. This government is a government that is highly committed to addressing domestic violence against women and their children at all levels.