Domestic and Family Violence Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 - Education, Arts and Communities Committee - May 2025
Overview
In May 2025, The Salvation Army provided a submission to the Queensland Government’s Education, Arts and Communities Committee regarding the Domestic and Family Violence Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. The submission welcomes the proposed amendments in the Bill, recognising its potential to enhance protections for victim-survivors and improve police responsiveness. Drawing on our extensive experience in family and domestic violence service delivery across Australia, our submission stresses that legislative reform alone is insufficient and must be supported by systemic investment to ensure the Bill’s effectiveness.
Key Points
- Preventing Misidentification: The submission underscores the persistent issue of victim-survivors being wrongly identified as perpetrators of violence. It recommends mandatory, ongoing training for police and justice staff on recognising patterns of abuse, and the implementation of co-responder models, such as the Alexis Family Violence Response Model, to improve identification and support.
- An Informed Service Sector: To ensure effective implementation of the Bill, The Salvation Army calls for comprehensive training and resources on any legislative changes for specialist family and domestic violence services. This includes guidance on new legal mechanisms like Police Protection Directions and electronic monitoring, and how these may affect diverse populations.
- Ensuring Victim-Survivor Awareness: The submission advocates for accessible, multilingual educational materials to inform victim-survivors about legislative changes and available support services, empowering them to engage confidently with legal and support systems.
- Investing in Behaviour Change and Accountability: The Salvation Army stresses the importance of investing in a broad range of accountability and behaviour change mechanisms for individuals using violence. It highlights the need for timely, ongoing, and integrated support services to ensure meaningful accountability and reduce recidivism.
Integrated Justice and Specialist Services: The submission calls for greater integration between the justice system and specialist family and domestic violence services. Improved communication and coordination are essential to ensure victim-survivor safety, effective risk management, and consistent support across Queensland.