Development of a Queensland Government Domestic and Family Violence Strategy

In July 2009, the Minister for Communities and Housing, the Honourable Karen Struthers MP launched For Our Sons and Daughters: A Queensland Government strategy to reduce domestic and family violence 2009-2014 (PDF, 860 KB) A Queensland Government strategy to reduce domestic and family violence 2009-2014 (RTF, 161 KB) and the first year's Program of Action 2009-10 (PDF, 640 KB) Program of Action 2009-10 (RTF, 219 KB).

The strategy aims to reduce the number and severity of domestic and family violence incidents in Queensland, which are currently estimated to cost the Queensland economy $2.7 to $3.2 billion per annum.

The goals of the strategy are to:

• support communities to promote respectful relationships and have zero tolerance of domestic and family violence
• provide people who experience domestic and family violence with access to effective safety and support programs
• respond to people who use domestic and family violence early and hold them accountable for their behaviour.

These goals will be achieved by building a service system that people who experiencing domestic and family violence can access and receive help more easily.

Reforms will focus on opportunities to intervene early with people who experience, or use, domestic and family violence, to break the cycle of violence as early as possible.

Reducing domestic and family violence contributes to achieving the government's ambitions of Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland with impacts on health, safety, productivity and engagement in work and education and the Council of Australian Government targets for Indigenous 'closing the gap' and homelessness reforms.

Program of Action 2009-10

The first Program of Action 2009–10 under the strategy commits to 30 initiatives, which include:

• a comprehensive reviewing the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 1989.
• testing of an integrated criminal justice response (policing and courts) in Rockhampton over two years
• a safety upgrades program at the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Townsville to support victims remaining in their homes and an increase in the use of conditions which exclude the perpetrator from remaining on particular premises, such as the family home
• establishment of an expert Death Review Panel to oversee a review of coronial processes and practices.

A government cross-agency team has been established to support the implementation of the program of action.

For more information please contact, the Domestic and Family Violence Strategy Implementation Team on (07) 3836 0012.