Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety found last year that police responses often displayed “racism and biased attitudes”.
The result is a larger number of First Nations women listed as perpetrators of domestic violence; and what their advocates say is a failure by police to properly understand their circumstances.
In February, the Queensland government announced a taskforce would be established to consult with domestic violence survivors, service providers, lawyers and the general community about coercive control, which includes tactics such as blocking victims’ access to money and cutting them off from friends and family.
The taskforce is set to report back in October on possible legislative options.
Guardian Australia has spoken to three separate researchers who say their attempts to undertake academic studies related to the policing of domestic violence were refused in a manner that implied police practices were already adequate and that research was not needed.
Police and the Queensland government have also resisted calls by the Women’s Legal Service Queensland for a comprehensive audit of underlying officer attitudes.
While police concede there have been systemic failures to protect women, they say publicly that problematic officers and their poor responses are outliers. It’s said that suggesting police have a cultural problem is “offensive”.
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Courts engage internationally recognised expert to undertake family violence focussed training
There has been considerable public focus on and discussion recently about the shameful prevalence of family violence in our community. It is an issue faced by many individuals and families who come to the Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia (the Courts) to have their family law disputes resolved.
As the safety of children and families is the highest priority for the Courts, it is important that judges, registrars, family consultants and other staff of the Courts are provided with the opportunity for regular training on the issues of family violence and the impact on children.
Respected anti-domestic violence campaigner remembered at vigil in Alice Springs abc.net.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from abc.net.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
âNo means noâ is not enough: What are we teaching young people about sexual consent?
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When Saxon Mullins was led into a laneway behind Sydneyâs Soho club on the night that led to one of Australiaâs most controversial rape trials, she went equipped with not a word of education about sexual consent.
Aged 18 and from a background she described as âshelteredâ, Mullins was told by a 21-year-old she had just met that he was taking her to a VIP area. Instead, she was escorted out the back and subjected to an act to which she maintains she did not consent.