Australia must do better to address domestic violence

Nadia David, Associate Lecturer, Criminology and Justice, RMIT University (0401 305 620 or nadia.david@rmit.edu.au)

Topics: domestic violence, family violence, family law, domestic homicide.

“The Queensland Coroner's findings and recommendations in the horrific deaths of Hannah Clarke and her children, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey, should be compulsory reading for policy makers and politicians in Australia right now.

“While the Coroner focused most of her recommendations on improving police training and understanding of domestic violence, which accounts for over half the work of the Queensland Police Service, it is clear from the Coroner's remarks that she does not blame police for their deaths.

“Unfortunately, this mass murder is not the first of its kind in Australia and won't be the last. There has been no real change in the rate of domestic violence-related homicide in this country in over 30 years. Even the changes in gun laws in 1996 barely put a dent in the numbers. 

“Domestic violence is so common it can only be understood as cultural. A culture that is pervasive and we are wrong to keep focusing on the symptoms rather than turning our attention as a society to the cause - a male-dominated society. 

“We must do better than give police a few more hours' training. We must engage in a concerted cultural shift. This is so much harder and more complex than simply increasing sentences and pouring money into law enforcement. Let's focus on cultural change and a different way of approaching this problem. What we're doing just isn't working and we can't solve the problems by doing more of the same.”

Nadia David is a former specialist domestic violence police officer and police prosecutor with the NSW Police Force. She is a qualified solicitor and holds a Master of Criminology. Her PhD research is looking at consent, criminal law and domestic violence and she teaches criminal justice and criminology at RMIT University.

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For interviews, please contact Nadia David, Associate Lecturer, Criminology and Justice, RMIT University: 0401 305 620 or nadia.david@rmit.edu.au 

For general media enquiries, please contact RMIT Communications: 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au