The Queensland government is facing criticism for allegedly burying a report from domestic violence survivors that was critical of police responses and called for independent oversight. The government has not publicly released the findings, despite promises to prioritize victims.
The government's alleged suppression of a report critical of police responses to domestic violence raises serious questions about its commitment to victim safety and accountability within law enforcement. It highlights a potential disconnect between public promises and policy actions regarding gender-based violence.
The Queensland government is facing accusations of suppressing a report compiled by a working group of domestic violence survivors. The report, completed in December, reportedly contains significant criticisms of police responses to domestic violence and calls for a civilian review mechanism to handle complaints. Despite the government's stated commitment to prioritizing victims, the findings have not been publicly released, and a request to do so was denied by the minister's office.
Sources familiar with the report suggest the government's reluctance stems from the document's strong criticisms of the Queensland Police Service, including concerns about an 'entrenched culture' and inconsistent application of judgment. The report highlighted issues such as delays in police responses, minimization of breaches of domestic violence orders, and a lack of consistent operational approaches.
This comes as the Queensland Police Service has previously disbanded its specialist domestic and family violence command and released a reform plan indicating that case management for such incidents is not considered 'core business.' The report also recommended the adoption of nationally standardized risk assessment tools and victim-centered practices.
In response to inquiries, the domestic and family violence prevention minister, Amanda Camm, stated that the government has made a 'record high' investment in domestic and family violence prevention and is working to improve services inherited from the former Labor government. She cited an increase in DV Connect's answer rate as an example of progress.
However, critics and sources close to the report believe the government is unwilling to act on many of the recommendations, particularly those concerning the police, and that its actions contradict its 'victim first' agenda. Some also point to a recent state budget that reportedly cut funding for domestic and family violence prevention, leaving community sector services overburdened and under-resourced.