Arabic version: حوادث العنف الأسري في تسمانيا تتجاوز 7,000

According to ABC News, Tasmania Police recorded more than 7,000 domestic and family violence incidents across the state in the past year, more than double the number recorded a decade ago. Advocates say attitudes towards women are not changing quickly enough and that people remain in dangerous situations while support systems are under-resourced.

Femicide Watch data shows 12 Tasmanian women have been killed by violence in the past decade, with more than half of those deaths linked to family or domestic violence. Romany Wake, whose mother Rachel was killed by her ex-husband on Christmas Day nearly five years ago, said rising figures risk becoming normalised. She has spoken publicly about family violence to help people recognise that violence in the home is not normal.

Women’s Legal Service Tasmania acting chief executive Siobhan Mackay called for greater investment in prevention, early intervention and frontline services. She said efforts must address harmful beliefs and norms that contribute to men’s violence against women, while counselling, legal services, shelters, case management, accommodation and emergency funding require significant support.

The Tasmanian government is progressing reforms including laws intended to better capture patterns of coercive control, a levy on family violence offenders to support victims, and compulsory behaviour change courses for serial perpetrators. There are 400 known serial family violence offenders in Tasmania. The government has also proposed requiring offenders to disclose new relationships on social media and dating profiles.

Advocates have also urged the government to broaden the legal definition of family violence, which currently applies to people in an intimate relationship. The government has confirmed it is considering the change as part of a third tranche of reforms. Family Violence Prevention Minister Jo Palmer said work in schools on respectful relationships is also intended to help young people navigate sexism, misogyny and harmful online content.