[Greens-Media] Upper House move on Premier’s domestic violence failure

[Susie Gemmell]

Media Release 
25 February 2008

Upper House move on Premier’s domestic violence failure
 
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon will move in the NSW Upper House this week to
tighten up domestic violence procedures as Premier Morris Iemma has
failed to adopt key Ombudsman recommendations. 
 
“The Premier’s 2006 declaration of war on domestic violence is in
tatters as record numbers of women who defend themselves against a
violent partner are being arrested,” Ms Rhiannon said. 
 
“Premier Iemma has been given clear advice on ensuring that the new
policy of encouraging arrests for domestic violence does not result in
women victims being arrested for trying to defend themselves.
 
“In May 2007 the Ombudsman recommended that the NSW Police adopt the
primary aggressor policy currently operating in Victoria. Under this
policy when police respond to a domestic violence call they are required
to consider if one party acted in self-defence and if there have been
other complaints of abuse. 
 
“The Crimes Act 1900 Section 15A states that, in enacting the
legislation, Parliament recognises that domestic violence is in the main
perpetrated by men against women and children. 
 
“Premier Iemma’s failure to introduce this policy means that every
month women are being arrested by police for trying to defend themselves
when being assaulted and men are successfully manipulating police and
getting away with assaulting their partners. 
 
“The number of women arrested for domestic violence incidents has
risen by 25 per cent in the past five years. 
 
“The Premier’s failure in this area has also been highlighted by a
report from the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearing House.
The report, which the NSW government received 14 months ago, shows that
many women arrested in domestic violence incidents were in fact
defending themselves,” Ms Rhiannon said. 
 
Former NSW detective and University of Western Sydney lecturer, Dr
Michael Kennedy, said: “It is absurd to make any claim that women are
as physically violent as men. The NSW Police needs to change its policy
to recognise that discretion is equal to enforcement in the struggle
against domestic violence.  
 
“Physical violence has many causal factors and requires a multi
faceted approach. But it is mostly a gendered problem that is
perpetrated by men against women,” said Dr Kennedy. 

 For more information: Lee Rhiannon - 0427 861 568; Michael Kennedy -
0418 669 584.


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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon-Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0431 458 102
Email susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au