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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-11-12 Daily Xml
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Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (14:47): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney update the house on how the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service is providing assistance to South Australians?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:48): I thank the member for Kavel who, as a legal practitioner in his own area, understands the significance of domestic and family violence and the importance of prevention. Members may be interested to note—

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell is warned.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —that this is a service that we have—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan: No women available to ask that question?

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is on two warnings.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —maintained. Following a competitive tender process, the Legal Services Commission was announced as the successful tenderer to be the provider of the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service on 28 May this year. In the first quarter of the service's operation under LSC, the relevant period, that is, 1 July to 30 September—

Ms Hildyard: They have taken it away from a women's run organisation. They have taken it away from the women's organisation. It's outrageous.

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell is now warned for a second time.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: The service provided assistance in the form of referrals to 161 women, legal advice to 93 women and both legal advice and representation to 86 women. I give some assurance to the house of the importance of ensuring that under this new regime they have a legal services contract and not a social welfare contract to do the service they are providing.

In total, the service has assisted 340 women in the last quarter, of whom 60 transitioned over from the Victim Support Service. I also want to advise the house that this service has taken a number of steps to connect with all South Australian women, including those who do not speak English as a first language. Their solicitors have engaged with clients from seven different cultural and linguistically diverse communities, as well as Aboriginal women and a client who required Auslan services. Brochures from the service have now been distributed to 14 Magistrates Court locations, in addition to the majority of police stations.

The service also provides victims of domestic family violence with specialist legal support to apply for intervention orders, end tenancy agreements and navigate the processes of the Magistrates Court. Solicitors provide these services in four locations across the state, provide telephone appointments for those who cannot attend in person and in addition, as an extension of these services, I advise that the staff from the services have promoted the service particularly in regional areas and connected with other important bodies, such as the Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation and the Port Augusta child and family investigation section.

Finally, and importantly, the service is on track to meet its annual target of supporting 800 women per year. I congratulate the women of the court assistance service on their work under the Legal Services Commission to date.

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