NSW government to unveil emergency domestic violence package within days as experts say a decade of reports contain solutions

There was no confirmed announcement out of today’s special meeting here in Martin Place this morning. However, Deputy Premier Pruka, who led the meeting, said today will form part of what will become an emergency response package which the people of NSW can expect in the coming days. Advocates like Rosie Batty, Hannah Tonkin and Marcia Neve handed down their lived experience to the cabinet this morning. Minister Carr said it was a deeply moving experience listening to what they had to say. She said there is still the potential for a Royal Commission in NSW into domestic violence, however there is enough information needed to form a response. She also said that targeted intervention in regional areas where domestic violence rates are the highest, will also be a priority of this package. Out of today we have clearly heard three very clear things that we need to invest very clearly in crisis responses and frontline services for women who are fleeing domestic and family violence, who are fleeing violent homes, like violent partners, violent relationships, but that we need to do better in primary prevention and in early intervention. We will be talking about the medium and the long term actions that we need to invest in and drive as a government in terms of driving the cultural change to stop women from dying and to stop women from being victims of domestic violence, family violence and violence in their intimate relationships. The Victorian Royal Commission over a decade ago was a key talking point for advocate Rosie Batty because she says that’s where change to gender based violence in her state began. She believes that’s the way forward for NSW in lowering what has been an increasing death rate. And I’m very, very passionate about the emphasis of respect for relationships in schools, starting as early as crash, kinder, early learning. And I think without recognizing the intergenerational impacts on young people of violence, we will never see this scourge on our society. And today’s meeting was called after a sharp spike in the number of women killed under domestic violence circumstances this year. Forbes local Molly Tyshurst, who was allegedly killed by her former partner last month, was the 25th woman to die through gender based violence in Australia this year so far. Her accused killer Daniel Billings was on bail at the time of her death. Premier Chris Mins trekked to Forbes in the state Central West yesterday to attend her funeral, which was an incredibly sombre occasion full of flowers and photographs. The NSW Council for Social Services says 2500 reports of domestic violence are handed to police each month in NSW. However that number could be 40% higher due to under reporting. A couple of days after Molly was killed, the Premier announced that advice would be sought from the Crown advocate in relation to urgent bail reform in relation to bail laws, and that advice is expected to be handed down later this month.