Clare's Law Proposal Puts Spotlight On DV

20150804 Clare's Law — Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington with Shadow Minister for Communities Tracy Davis

South Burnett’s
List Of Shame

The meeting discussed a depressing list of domestic violence statistics compiled by local magistrate Simon Young.

Mr Young, above, reviewed 338 family violence applications that were filed in Nanango, Kingaroy and Murgon courts between July 2014 and May 2015.

Overall, the ratio of female to male victims was 80/20.

The prevalence of alcohol/drugs in the commission of violence overall was 43 per cent. In indigenous applications for Kingaroy it was 28pc and rose to 50pc in Murgon. In the non-indigenous community the rate was about 33pc across the three centres.

“The small relative difference between indigenous and non-indigenous people committing acts of family violence whilst affected by drugs or alcohol should dispel any complacency in recognising this as an issue affecting every community,” Mr Young noted.

Children were affected in more than 53pc of applications.

Almost half identified family violence being committed by both parties.

Mental health issues were raised in 14pc overall.

August 4, 2015

South Burnett family support workers and other frontline personnel gathered in Kingaroy on Tuesday to discuss domestic violence in the local area, and the “Clare’s Law” Draft Bill tabled by the LNP in State Parliament.

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington and Shadow Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services Tracy Davis hosted the meeting, which was held in the Town Hall Reception Room.

Ms Davis has been travelling around Queensland to brief communities on “Clare’s Law” and seek feedback on a consultation paper.

“Clare’s Law” is named after Clare Wood, a woman who was raped and strangled by her former partner in the UK.

Clare met the man on an online dating site and a relationship blossomed. He seemed genial but a violent side soon surfaced.

During the police investigation, her family discovered the man had a violent past which if Clare had known about, may have saved her life.

“Clare’s Law allows access to vital information about someone’s violent past and crimes,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“It means a person, their friends or family members who had a concern about his or her partner would be able to make an application to the police for information on whether the person has a history of domestic violence or sexual offences.”

This is known as the “Right To Ask”.

However, the scheme would also give police officers the right to disclose information of a criminal nature pertaining to domestic violence and / or sexual offences to a person, even if that person has not asked for that information. This is known as the “Right To Know”.

The law was piloted in the UK in 2012 and is currently also being trialled in NSW.

About 20 people attended the forum in Kingaroy.

Mrs Frecklington said it had provided an opportunity for the people who were dealing with the effects of domestic violence to have an input into future laws.

Ms Davis said she was very heartened by the response she was receiving to the disclosure scheme.

“Some people have raised additional things that could be a part of it. We may tweak it,” she said.

Mrs Frecklington said she was urging all South Burnett residents to get involved in the consultation process.

“We all have a responsibility to help end domestic violence and family violence,” she said.

“I think the time is right for the South Burnett community to be part of a meaningful conversation about how can we make our homes even safer places to live.

“Only by working together can we develop effective policy to lead the way in stamping out this insidious crime.”