This week we have taken a giant leap towards protecting victims of domestic violence.
For far too long, the protection of domestic violence victims has not been a priority.
The statistics paint a shameful picture of just how skewed our priorities have been up until now.
Queensland accounted for a quarter of all domestic violence related deaths in Australia in 2016.
Our community deserves better. Our women and children deserve to feel safe.
We all deserve a justice system, not just a legal system.
That’s why the LNP has introduced tough reforms in Parliament today to tackle the growing scourge of domestic violence.
Our plan includes:
• Bail is not a right – Reversing the onus of proof for bail, forcing those charged with domestic violence crimes to prove why they deserve bail.
• DV Alert System – Issuing a notification if an offender has applied or been granted bail or parole to give victims and their families time to mentally and physically prepare.
• GPS Monitoring – Monitoring high-risk offenders by GPS tracking to ensure the safety of victims and their families through the court process, which can often be lengthy
• Urgent Appeal Rights – Introducing an urgent appeal right for bail decisions and ensure they are finalised within three business days. The alleged offender will stay in custody during the appeal – not out in the community – giving police the tools they need to better protect the community through the bail process.
It’s time politicians from all sides of politics put aside their bickering and do what’s right by supporting these strong laws.
Stephen Bennett MP
Member for Burnett
14 February 2017