A sweeping seven-volume report into family violence in Victoria was hailed as a turning point for a “broken system” Wednesday, with state Premier Daniel Andrews agreeing to adopt all 227 recommendations and warning “there can be no more excuses — our work begins today.”
The Royal Commission into Family Violence delivered its 1,900 page report to the Victorian government this week, urging an overhaul across all facets of the sector following 13 months of hearings and testimony of 220 victims.
The findings were made public in a budget-style lockup for media and stakeholder groups early Wednesday, with Premier Andrews vowing to put victims at the heart of ambitious reforms recommended by the Commission.
“I refuse to look back in ten years’ time and admit that we could have done more to save innocent lives. We will get this right,” said Andrews.
“We will punish the perpetrators, listen to the survivors and change the culture that allows family violence to happen.”
“Too many women are dying. The #RCFV was our highest and most formal way to get the answers that we need” – Andrews. pic.twitter.com/ef4WgBirIA
— Melissa Davey (@MelissaLDavey) March 30, 2016
It’s time to change it all. #RCFVhttps://t.co/Y5ygYMkPTD
— Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) March 30, 2016
Denouncing it as “gendered crime” rooted in “appalling” attitudes to women and failures of political leadership, Andrews said there needed to be a focus beyond the life of any one government and did not shy away from the fact that reforms would be costly:
“This is not about money, this is about saving lives,” said Andrews, estimating that family violence cost the state at least $3.1 billion every year.
“It’s not a cost, it’s an investment.”
Among the report’s key recommendations, which will be adopted wholesale by the government:
- one-stop safety hubs linking victims to a host of services, meaning they don’t have to tell their story over and over
- law reform to improve information-sharing
- ‘safe at home’ approach requiring perpetrator rather than victim to leave the family home
- increased perpetrator focus to reduce repeat offences
- all family violence matters to be heard in specialist courts within five years – family, civil and criminal issues to be dealt with under the one roof; victims to have the option of testifying remotely or having a safe room so they don’t have any contact with the perpetrator
- improvements to child protection
- an independent family violence watchdog to hold governments to account
- increased police training and use of technology
- training to improve frontline awareness in hospitals and schools; early intervention with schoolchildren to weed out a culture of violence
- targeted culturally appropriate response for the Aboriginal community, where family violence rates are high but so are barriers to support for women and children
- local councils required to report on measures taken to reduce family violence and assist victims
The report calls for less siloed responses and shifting of the burden away from victims onto perpetrators, as well as greater accountability across the board.
Other measures considered relate to financial and accommodation security for victims, with calls for the federal government to amend the national credit code to include family violence as grounds for financial hardship.
The Commission itself spent just $13.5 million of its $36 million budget, and requested that the balance go to funding family violence services.
Cmr Marcia Neave: family violence affects everyone. In this room there will be survivors #RCFV pic.twitter.com/ar7nRxKcZY
— Stephanie Anderson (@skateanderson) March 30, 2016
” Privacy should not trump safety” says Commissioner Neave #RCFV
— Women’s Health East (@WHEast) March 30, 2016
“The overall response to family violence needs to be transformed,” Neave says.
— Melissa Davey (@MelissaLDavey) March 30, 2016
Andrews said he would discuss the findings with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ahead of COAG on Friday, noting that the report was important for Australia as a nation, not just Victoria.
The Royal Commission has highlighted #COAG role in advocating for increased Federal funding of #familyviolence legal help #springst #RCFV
— Federation of CLCs (@CommunitylawVic) March 30, 2016
#RCFV report recommends @TurnbullMalcolm implement a family violence Medicare number #auspol #springst
— Lucille Keen (@lucillekeen) March 30, 2016
Former Australian of the Year and outspoken family violence campaigner, Rosie Batty, appeared alongside Andrews and Commissioner Marcia Neave as the findings were handed down.
The death of Batty’s 11-year-old son Luke at the hands of his father in February 2014 was one of the events which eventually set the Commission in train.
“It will take weeks” to digest the seven volume report, Rosie Batty says. “But I’m thrilled” she says. #RCFV pic.twitter.com/dBGOsRnjJX
— Melissa Davey (@MelissaLDavey) March 30, 2016
The report’s ambitious new agenda was lauded by groups in the community sector, with the Victorian Council of Social Service hailing it as “a landmark moment and a turning point in addressing the scourge of family violence in Victoria”.
Said VCOSS CEO Emma King:
The Royal Commission’s report provides a framework for long-term, whole-of-government, transformational change across the family violence system.
The breadth of the report is extraordinary, encompassing all areas of government and social service delivery.
VCOSS welcomes the focus on critical areas that are often overlooked, such as financial security. For example, the recommendations look at ways to stop women having their electricity cut off or losing their tenancy as a result of family violence.
Challenges will inevitably arise with such seismic change to the way the Victorian community, the service system and government work together to tackle the scourge of family violence. But it is incumbent on us all to make the most of what is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve real change.
The Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria welcomed the report as a “watershed moment”.
FVPLS Victoria Media Release “Royal Commission A watershed moment to
address violence against Aboriginal women #RCFV https://t.co/7OkEfBXIca— FVPLS Victoria (@FVPLSVictoria) March 30, 2016
Jesuit Social Services said early targeting of cultural change was a welcome move.
“The most effective way to keep women and children safe is to change broader societal attitudes and structures that excuse or minimise violence against women. This must begin at a young age, so we are pleased that the report recommends mandatory education about respectful relationships for school students,” said CEO Julie Edwards.
Domestic Violence Victoria said the report was a chance to make an “extraordinary difference to the lives of women and children living with violence.”
Some other responses:
Let's be clear, the release of the #RCFV report today is the beginning of a discussion about family violence, not the conclusion. #VAW
— Women's Legal Vic (@WomensLegalVic) March 29, 2016
See Keran Howe review @rcfamviolence rec's at https://t.co/UcD8dCWKVx @dvvic @OurWatchAus @NDS_Disability @WWDA_AU pic.twitter.com/1LjKwaXl2L
— WDV (@WDVtweet) March 30, 2016
We commend @VicGovAu for their commitment to ending family violence with their final #RCFV report. https://t.co/rDhhZNJB1P via @ABCNews
— Vinnies Victoria (@VinniesVictoria) March 30, 2016
.@salvos response to #RCFV – a critical moment for Victoria @VCOSS @dvvic @perkinsmiki @CHPVic @brendannottle https://t.co/3IA1CQRgl1
— Jason Davies-Kildea (@salvojdk) March 30, 2016
Important #RCFV Report & @VicGovAU response today. Family violence & dysfunction is one of the biggest causes of youth homelessness
— Ladder (@Ladder_) March 30, 2016
RACGP to assist in development of a family violence learning agenda incl undergrad & graduate training & CPD: #RCFV recommendation
— RACGP (@RACGP) March 30, 2016
We are reviewing the #RCFV report and look forward to working with partners and government to action recommendations pic.twitter.com/Scsliig618
— WHIN (@whinwomen) March 30, 2016
.@OurWatchAus welcomes comprehensive #RCFV report & @VicGovAu commitment to implement all 227 recommendations #FVRC #springst
— Mary Barry CEO (@OurWatchCEO) March 30, 2016
Media release – #LGBTI community organisations praise #RCFV recommendations https://t.co/0pg9qinUzs // @MelbCommVoice @samesame @JOY949news
— Victorian GLRL (@VGLRL) March 30, 2016
