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    Member for Lowan Emma Kealy.

More needed to curb violence crisis

The entire June 23, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

A surge in Victorian family violence-related offences has triggered a strong response from Member for Lowan Emma Kealy.

Ms Kealy, state opposition representative for the Prevention of Family Violence, said a laboured State Government response combined with COVID lockdowns had exacerbated the issue.



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She made her comments based on independent Crime Statistics Agency data that showed Victoria recorded 92,999 family incidents in the 12 months to March 31 this year – the highest on record.

“Offences increased 11.3 percent from the previous year. This represents 31 additional offences every single day of the year,” she said.

“Victoria also recorded its highest number of family violence-related criminal incidents on record, accounting for more than one in five crimes in Victoria.”

Ms Kealy, also shadow minister for women and mental health, said crime statistics confirmed increases in the following offences in the year ending March 2021:

• Family violence-related offences increased by 11.3 percent.

• Family violence-related criminal incidents increased by 6.1 percent.

• Family violence order breaches increased by 18.4 percent.

• Family violence-related common assaults increased by 5.9 percent.

“The family violence crisis has been exacerbated by a decrease in the number of police available to respond to incidents, with up to 1200 frontline police redeployed into hotel quarantine who spent longer offline than operational during this period,” Ms Kealy said.

“Labor’s lockdowns, coupled with their failure to implement all of the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence have worsened the family violence crisis in our state to a level never seen before.

“Despite the commission’s final report being handed down five years ago, 61 of the 227 recommendations are still outstanding and 27 are past deadline.

“Labor has also cut funding to the Family Violence Implementation Monitor, which was tasked with holding the government to account to implement the Royal Commission’s recommendations.

“The Andrews Labor government cannot afford to wait a day longer.

“It must act on the critical reform our state needs to ensure people are protected and safe in their own home, workplace and in the community.”