Dr LIM - 1999-10-12
I have heard public comment relating to the criminal justice response under the domestic violence strategy. I was under the impression that the strategy was leading Australia in many areas, but some of this comment has been critical of legal responses. Could the Chief Minister please provide information on this?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker,I advise the honourable member and the House that our domestic violence strategy in the 5 years since its implementation has proved to be very well conceived and planned. It has received awards Australia-wide, particularly the ‘Be Cool, Not Cruel’ education program for the young that was conceived by young Territorians.
The strategy reflects the importance that the Northern Territory government and community puts on the problem of domestic violence. It is worth reminding Territorians how this strategy stands out in comparison to other jurisdictions, from which it has received many accolades. It includes the design and management of what remains the only jurisdiction-wide domestic violence data collection project in Australia. Government and non-government agencies collect statistical information and reports and these have been regularly published. This data is assisting to set benchmarks from which the Territory can in the future monitor the incidence of domestic violence. The Territory developed the first accredited training course in this specialised area so that formal training is available to domestic violence workers.
The Territory also designed and monitored community education programs that are achieving a recognition rate of 82-95% in the community, with up to 100% recognition for some important key programs in some groups. In the community there is general and strong support for the strategy. It is considered progressive.
However, there are comments and criticisms about the implementation of aspects of the strategy, and I certainly have taken those criticisms on board. Most particularly a paper issued by Domestic Violence Legal Help Services, a constructive paper, refers to: criticisms of whether or not police general orders and practices are applying the strategies sufficiently at the door in charging people with incidents of domestic violence; criticisms of police prosecutors and police in general in terms of assisting victims of domestic violence in taking out restraining orders; and criticism of the vigour and rigour, I suppose, of the Director of Public Prosecutions and his staff in pursuing convictions in the court. Those criticisms are constructive.
We have organised through Cabinet a complete evaluation of the domestic violence strategy. We are advertising and calling for tenders for a consultant to design that review. It will be an independent consultant. The report and comments of Domestic Violence Legal Help Services will be referred to that consultant in their deliberations and that consultant will review the effectiveness of the implementation of the strategy in terms of those particular criticisms, identifying factors that are preventing the strategy from achieving its aims in entirety and also providing options for the future.
I encourage agency service providers and community members to contribute to the evaluation that will take place over the coming months. I welcome the creativity that those groups will bring to the process and reiterate my appreciation of the constructive criticisms that my office has received.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker,I advise the honourable member and the House that our domestic violence strategy in the 5 years since its implementation has proved to be very well conceived and planned. It has received awards Australia-wide, particularly the ‘Be Cool, Not Cruel’ education program for the young that was conceived by young Territorians.
The strategy reflects the importance that the Northern Territory government and community puts on the problem of domestic violence. It is worth reminding Territorians how this strategy stands out in comparison to other jurisdictions, from which it has received many accolades. It includes the design and management of what remains the only jurisdiction-wide domestic violence data collection project in Australia. Government and non-government agencies collect statistical information and reports and these have been regularly published. This data is assisting to set benchmarks from which the Territory can in the future monitor the incidence of domestic violence. The Territory developed the first accredited training course in this specialised area so that formal training is available to domestic violence workers.
The Territory also designed and monitored community education programs that are achieving a recognition rate of 82-95% in the community, with up to 100% recognition for some important key programs in some groups. In the community there is general and strong support for the strategy. It is considered progressive.
However, there are comments and criticisms about the implementation of aspects of the strategy, and I certainly have taken those criticisms on board. Most particularly a paper issued by Domestic Violence Legal Help Services, a constructive paper, refers to: criticisms of whether or not police general orders and practices are applying the strategies sufficiently at the door in charging people with incidents of domestic violence; criticisms of police prosecutors and police in general in terms of assisting victims of domestic violence in taking out restraining orders; and criticism of the vigour and rigour, I suppose, of the Director of Public Prosecutions and his staff in pursuing convictions in the court. Those criticisms are constructive.
We have organised through Cabinet a complete evaluation of the domestic violence strategy. We are advertising and calling for tenders for a consultant to design that review. It will be an independent consultant. The report and comments of Domestic Violence Legal Help Services will be referred to that consultant in their deliberations and that consultant will review the effectiveness of the implementation of the strategy in terms of those particular criticisms, identifying factors that are preventing the strategy from achieving its aims in entirety and also providing options for the future.
I encourage agency service providers and community members to contribute to the evaluation that will take place over the coming months. I welcome the creativity that those groups will bring to the process and reiterate my appreciation of the constructive criticisms that my office has received.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016