'We're not making change': Mother of alleged DV victim lashes 'privileged' politicians for lack of action

The mother of a woman allegedly murdered by a former partner has lashed state and federal politicians for not doing enough to tackle domestic violence.

In an emotion-fuelled episode of the ABC’s Q+A, Tabitha Acret said “major failures” in the judicial system contributed to the fatal stabbing of her 22-year-old daughter Mackenzie Anderson at a unit in Newcastle in 2022.

Tyrone Thompson, a former partner of Ms Anderson, has been charged with murder, entering a dwelling with intent and breaching an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO).

Mr Thompson has pleaded not guilty to the charge and a trial is set down for next year.

Ms Acret confronted the NSW opposition leader for a lack of compassion, telling host Patricia Karvelas that she met then attorney-general Mark Speakman after her daughter’s death to raise concerns about the judicial system.

But she found him “condescending and dismissive” at the time.

“Your words don’t mean a lot to me,” she told the now opposition leader on Q+A.

Mr Speakman responded: “If I was condescending, I apologise for it.”

Ms Acret accepted his apology, but noted: “You’ve had a very privileged male life and you did the best you could in that situation, but I think you need to get much more informed.”

The conversation came a day after tens of thousands of Australians marched against gendered violence and the alleged murders of young Australian women.

Ms Acret says recent news has been “triggering”.

“I don’t want to see other families experience the trauma that I have had and my friends and my family have,” she said.

“I know I might turn on the television tomorrow and the same thing, and the same thing, and the same thing.”

Earlier, Mr Speakman made the case for a NSW royal commission into domestic violence — something Premier Chris Minns says is on the table for discussion.

“We need a royal commission, not to put things on hold, not to stop, because there are some things we know we can do straight away,” he said.

“But I think we need that independent oversight.

“We saw with a child abuse royal commission that led to … action. I’m hoping with the veterans’ suicide royal commission that’s going to lead to enormous action. So I think the royal commission has that potential to have that gravitas to force action.”

Federal government frontbencher Murray Watt dismisses the idea of a national royal commission, saying the government’s 10-year, $2.3 billion action plan needs time to work.

“This government is spending more than any Australian government has ever spent on this area,” the agriculture and emergency management minister told Q+A.

“But all of us need to do more, governments need to do more, the community needs to do more. All of us need to do more — in particular men.

“We’ve got to seize this moment and make this a national turning point.”

But the Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie says the government has failed to deliver the frontline workers it promised.

“When you talk to victims, survivors, it’s about frontline services,” she said.

“Where do I go tonight with my children and my dog? I can’t get in anywhere. And that is actually the issue.”

Mr Watt said “the majority” of the promised workers would be in place by June 30.

He also defended Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who was criticised for an impromptu and, according to some, unwelcome speech to the Canberra rally on Sunday.

“The prime minister has listened, he turned up to the rally … he spent an hour-and-a-half listening to people, as he should,” Mr Watt said.

But Senator McKenzie called the PM’s handling of the rally “appalling”.

“The prime minister had an opportunity to stand up and to listen to victims, survivors,” she said.

“Instead he chose to gaslight them over the last 48 hours.”

The discussion drew a fierce response from criminologist and former NSW police detective Vincent Hurley, who branded the politicians on the panel “disgraceful”.

“How dare you,” Mr Hurley said from the Q+A audience.

“How dare you go into politics in an environment like this — when one woman is murdered every four days — and all you two can do is immediately talk about politics.”

Watch the full episode of Q+A on ABC iview.