A future Deb Frecklington LNP Government will introduce a raft of new measures to boost Queensland’s domestic violence response.
Speaking in Cairns today, Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Stephen Bennett said the LNP is committed to keeping all Queenslanders safe, while making sure there are consequences for domestic violence offenders.
“The LNP has already introduced the toughest strangulation laws in the country to fix a legal loophole in the legislation and we are urging the Palaszczuk Labor Government to back those laws.
“We will also immediately review the current criminal justice framework to implement new laws such as coercive control, roll-out personal safety devices to people at high-risk and provide grants up to $2000 for emergency accommodation assistance,” Mr Bennett said.
“Frontline Police will be given tougher laws and new powers to issue domestic violence orders on the spot.
“The LNP will provide high risk domestic violence victims with personal safety devices so they will know if someone issued with a DVO is getting closer to them.
“In the wake of more horrific domestic violence tragedies, more needs to be done to prevent domestic violence and help survivors.
“Only the LNP has a plan to fix it, because we want Queensland to be the safest place to live, work and raise a family.
“Our police and courts are overwhelmed under the current system, which isn’t working to protect families or hold perpetrators accountable.”
- Better laws and stronger penalties – fixing the strangulation offence
Immediately fix the definition and double the current maximum penalty for strangulation from 7 years to 14 years. This will re-classify the offence as a Serious Violent Offence and align the penalties with grievous bodily harm, ensuring Queensland has the toughest strangulation laws in the nation.
- New laws
Immediately review the entire domestic violence criminal justice legal framework to implement new laws such as coercive control and a specific domestic violence summary offence. Laws will also empower police to issue domestic violence orders on the spot, providing an immediate response to help families, while taking pressure off our overburdened police and courts.
- Protecting domestic violence survivors - Smart Technology
The LNP will commit $500,000 to rollout 200 personal safety devices to people vulnerable to domestic violence. This will include greater integration with GPS trackers and protect vulnerable survivors and their families when they need it most.
- Extra support for domestic violence survivors and their families ($2.4 million)
An LNP Government will provide $1 million in extra funding to Women’s Legal Service and an additional $1 million to other frontline legal and support providers of domestic violence or sexual violence support. The LNP will also establish one-off emergency assistance grants of up to $2000, to help families flee, in recognition of the shortage of crisis accommodation.
