South Australia Releases Discussion Paper on Domestic Violence Prevention
Thursday 28 July 2016 @ 12.06 p.m. | Crime
South Australia has released a discussion paper on domestic violence that asks for public feedback on eight key topics in order to develop new policies designed to help prevent domestic and family violence. The paper also includes a discussion of data on the occurrence of domestic violence in the state drawn from information collected by the South Australian Police, the Courts Administration Authority and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
South Australian Attorney-General John Rau told ABC News
“Domestic violence is everybody’s business. The discussion paper shines a light into the dark corners, providing unprecedented levels of information and analysis in South Australia… Success will hinge on the measures [chosen] being appropriate, efficient and effective, qualities that require community support”.
The deadline for public submissions on the discussion paper is 4 September 2016.
Domestic Violence in South Australia
The discussion paper found that there were 8417 reported occasions of domestic violence in 2015. 77% of domestic violence were female. 43% of the assault victims were in the 20-34 age group, and 75% of female victims faced assault from an intimate partner. Aboriginal people were 10 times more likely to experience an domestic violence assault than non-Aboriginal people. 12 females and 4 males were victims of murder, manslaughter or attempted murder, which made up 46% of homicide and related offences in the state.
Key Topics & Questions
The paper presents eight topics with related questions for community consideration:
Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS)
This would involve developing a scheme to allow people to find out about a person’s history of domestic violence:
“Community and expert views are sought on a number of key issues. We are asking you to consider the parameters and processes that should apply to a DVDS in South Australia. This includes who should be able to apply for a disclosure, how someone should apply for a disclosure, whether age limits should be enforced and the factors that should be considered when determining whether a disclosure should be made.”
Expiry Dates on Intervention Orders
Currently intervention orders do not have end dates in SA.
“We are asking you to consider whether intervention orders should expire after a certain period of time or whether courts should be given the discretion to impose a time limit. If a time limit is supported, what is an appropriate expiry term?”
Comprehensive Collection of Data
Concerns have been raised that offences are not always identified as being domestic violence, and that separating assault and domestic/family violence charges may allow more accurate data to be kept.
“We are asking you to consider how domestic violence data should be collected and used. This includes which agencies should be expected to ‘flag’ domestic violence offending, and what behaviour should be included as domestic violence.”
Allowing Video Evidence
Currently evidence recorded by police body cameras is inadmissible in South Australian courts.
“We are asking you to consider whether the law should be changed to allow police video recordings to be admissible as evidence in a trial.”
Confidentiality
In SA, counselling and medical records are admissible during legal proceedings, including domestic violence counselling.
“We are asking you to consider whether some form of client privilege should apply to domestic violence counselling records, similar to the privilege given to sexual assault counselling.”
Drug and Alcohol Treatment
“We are asking you to consider whether assessments for drug and alcohol abuse should be mandatory as part of the intervention order process.”
Domestic Violence & Housing and Homelessness Service Priorities
The statistics show a large overlap between people accessing homelessness services and those experiencing domestic violence.
“We are asking you to consider the strengths and limitations in the way homelessness services are currently being delivered to women and children experiencing domestic violence, including how we can better provide support in Aboriginal communities."
Fostering Supportive Environments
“We are asking you to consider how we can assist domestic violence victims to be more confident in seeking appropriate support and assistance in the workplace and other environments and what actions would be most effective.”
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