Queensland’s new Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council has met for the first time, with the group set to oversee an action plan to strengthen domestic violence laws.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the council would play an integral role in overseeing the next phase of the Government’s reform program and inspiring corporate and community-led responses.
“In recent weeks, our State has felt an enormous sense of loss, grief and anger following a number of senseless domestic and family violence incidents,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“The recent deaths of Hannah Clarke and her three children have left our State and our nation shaken, appalled and desperately saddened at what was an unimaginable tragedy.”
She said the tragic events were a reminder not only of the insidious nature of domestic and family violence, but of how much more needed to be done to prevent and respond to it.
“This is not just an issue for governments to solve, we must act as a community; we all have a responsibility to end this violence,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“A lot of people have ideas on how we can continue to tackle this important issue, that’s why I have announced I will convene a State summit for the end of March that will give people a chance to come together and share those ideas and take further action.”
She said a Third Action Plan had been recently released to continue reform efforts which would be overseen by the new council.
The council will be co-chaired by former Chair of the Domestic and Family Violence Implementation Council, Kay McGrath (pictured) and former Queensland Police Commissioner, Bob Atkinson.