More victims are reporting domestic violence as the latest Magistrate’s court report shows protection orders jumping more than 20 percent in 2015/16.
We should welcome the fact our courts made more than 26,900 protection orders last financial year as this means more and more victims have felt empowered to speak up and seek help.
Overall orders, including temporary orders surpassed 32,200 last year and we can expect more in the future as we shine a light on domestic violence and encourage more victims to come forward.
With all these extra victims seeking protection we need to ensure now more than ever the system delivers those necessary protections.
This protection should include swift and tough punishment for offenders who would seek to breach protection orders.
I have said it over and over again, orders are not worth the paper they are written on if offenders don’t fear the consequences of breaching them.
Secondly, we need to ensure when victims make the decision to leave there is somewhere for them to go.
Sadly under this Labor Government we are seeing weak sentencing for breaches of protection orders and repeat offenders thumbing their nose at orders.
At the same time we have a Housing Minister in Mick de Brenni openly at war with private domestic violence shelter operators.
We need a strong system that stands up for victims and encourages everyone in the community to do the part to finally put an end to domestic violence in our community.
Ros Bates is the Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence
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