Ms BURNET question to ATTORNEY-GENERAL, Mr BARNETT
[10.32 a.m.]
Having invited stakeholders to identify reforms to the Family Violence Act 2004, the response to your draft bill has been one of disappointment and frustration that you've failed to address the issues identified as being most urgently in need of reform. The Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance have asked for a clear road map setting out how the proposed reforms relate to one another, the rationale for their sequencing and how they connect to the priorities identified by the sector. Minister, will you commit to delivering this road map so the sector knows what you will and won't be delivering through this reform process and what funding they will need to deliver those services?
ANSWER
I thank the honourable member for her question on a very important topic, something that we've put a lot of time and effort into in terms of addressing, in fact, released the family violence discussion paper earlier this year, which you would be aware of, been on the public record. I thank the many stakeholders that have made submissions and responded to that, more than 70, in fact.
You've made reference to one of the reform measures. We have three tranches of reforms in terms of family violence. I made reference yesterday to one of those, in terms of online abuse and responding to that in a legislative way. Yes, we need to have cultural change, but there's a legislative option there as well. I've made reference to the two other reforms, which are in fact nation‑leading. I appreciate you've made reference to one of the stakeholders and their interest in knowing next steps going forward through to 2027. I'm aware of those concerns and I want to make it clear here and now, as I have done with others, that I'll be providing an update before Christmas this year, before the end of this parliamentary session, with respect to the process going forward. We have three tranches. We have bills out for consultation. We'll have another bill out in terms of consultation in December and then that'll go through to next year. There will be plenty of time. We'll make sure there's time and adequate opportunity for stakeholders to give feedback. Then I will be making a statement before the end of this parliamentary session in terms of the process going forward.
I appreciate your comments. I appreciate the interest of stakeholders. It's absolutely clear to me there's a lot of work being done in this space and there's more work to do. This is a top priority for our government. And I go back to 2015, I go back to the Family Violence Action Plan, the first one under our government, under Will Hodgman - I compliment the premier, Will Hodgman, at the time. Rosie Batty came down and launched that - she was the Australian of the Year - she came down to Tasmania for that very important announcement and backed in our government's Family Violence Action Plan. I want to say thank you to Jo Palmer, the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, working together. I want to say thank you to the federal Attorney‑General. I joined her in a round table just last week in Hobart to hear feedback from the relevant family violence stakeholders in Tasmania, in Hobart. We've gleaned a great deal of important information. This is right at the forefront of my mind as an Attorney‑General and minister responsible for the legislation and the reforms that are taking place. I will have more to say in the not-too-distant future.
Supplementary Question
Ms BURNET - Minister, you've talked about all of those reforms and I appreciate that. It has been a long, long time that the sector has been waiting, and they've expressed their frustration. Your piecemeal announcements on family violence seem more about the media cycle than actually listening and acting on concerns from those who are dealing with the scourge. Will you commit to preparing this road map for these reforms or not?
Mr BARNETT - Firstly, I reject the accusation in your supplementary question. I reject it, 100 per cent reject it. I have made it very clear that I'll be providing an update to this parliament before the end of the parliamentary session this year. I've made it very clear, and I'll make it clear again now: I will provide that road map at that time. There's more work to do. We have three tranches. They're very important reforms coming out of that discussion paper based on stakeholder feedback, based on the priority of prevention of family violence, which is a scourge on our community. It's wrong, it's awful and, of course, a big impact on our prison population as well. It's not lost on me. Let's be very clear, that road map will be made available, it will be released and I look forward to doing so.