NSW ELECTIONS - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DISCLOSURE SCHEME
NSW elections this Saturday see the Liberal Perrottet Government and Mark Speakmen MP Cronulla in support of The RIght To Ask Scheme.
This is a nationwide issue and NSW is nation leading in supporting the change. The Right To Ask nationwide is the next goal.
It's come time for NSW elections which was a highly anticipated moment within this change.org petition as “The Right To Ask Scheme” is part of the Perrottet Liberal Governments initiatives.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the petition and raised awareness. After a recent meeting with Mark Speakman we can see “The Right to Ask Scheme” (domestic violence disclosure scheme) being supported by NSW Liberal Government and NSW police.
UPDATE
Earlier this year I had the privilege of speaking with Mark Speakman NSW Attorney General & MP for Cronulla and have had a response from the Department of Communities and Justice on behalf of Natalie Ward Minister for Womens Saftey and the Provention of Domestic and Sexual Violence in regards to “The Right To Ask Scheme” and a couple of other measures that I will elaborate on below within the Perrottet Liberal Government.
This is a nationwide issue and NSW is nation leading within this.
Domestic Violence is a prevalent issue in our society. There is a rise of incidents and the loss of safety for all victim survivors. Bringing back the Disclosure scheme is a very prevalent issue in NSW and Australia. NSW is Nation leading in the suite of measures that have been considered and reintroduced as “The Right To Ask Scheme” based on the UK Clares Law for NSW, further with extra magistrates and faster prosecution for perpetrators in court, criminalising coercive control, criminalising strangulation, extra ankle bracelets, police education, audio visuals and using trauma informed practice for victims. This initiative is great for victims as the process is extremely long and emotionally exhausting. They are making the change in the system and protecting and preventing yet another domestic violence death.
In the recent post of Natalie ward:
- Everyone should feel safe, which is why the Perrottet Government has announced a new scheme that will help people find out if their partner has a history of domestic violence
- The Right To Ask Scheme will provide the opportunity for NSW police to disclose information to a person who is a potential victim of domestic abuse about their partner’s previous abusive or violent offending
- The new scheme will be designed with input from domestic violence organisations. It will enable a person who may be at risk to apply through an online portal or phone line to access information about their partner and be accessible in multiple languages
- NSW Police will approve any information before it is provided, with strict privacy controls in place including criminal penalties for malicious applications
Mark Speakman NSW Attorney General & MP for Cronulla meeting -
Current meeting points that have been discussed these are recollected to the best of my ability:
In the words of the current press conference “Justice delayed = Justice denied”
- Dates that we can expect for the Right to Ask to be implemented after the consultation with external services?
Approximately a year after consultation with DV services. - Clarity on statutory declaration for the right to ask scheme and how you are ensuring victims safety?
I acknowledged the malicious intent of other people and that the consultation for feasibility with dv services is coming. A statutory declaration requirement could essentially endanger the victim, if they are heavily monitored by their perpetrator. How can this be discrete for victims and prioritise women's safety? What is that going to look like? Can you criminalise the misuse of the system in a different way?
Suggestion taken to the police commissioner and with further consultation with police, a criminal charge if someone were to use the scheme in a malicious way.
Also another fact that the public may not be aware of is that the perpetrators' charges are available in other states however the right to ask scheme is currently in only NSW. - Is there going to be cohesion with 5 extra magistrates within DV court matters? How is the process being fast tracked and perpetrators' conditions being elevated? What does this look like?
In some cases there is cohesion of the magistrate that will be dependent on the case. The delegations of extra magistrates starts in July and these magistrates will be appointed to specific courts. The blacklog of DV in court is aiming to be cleared by the end of 2024.
Correspondence from Department of Communities and Justice
This is summarised to the best of my ability:
Natalie Ward is the Minister for Womens Saftey and the Provention of Domestic and Sexual Violence. I have emailed her and have got a response from the Department of Communities and Justice on her behalf.
The response indicated that the Government plans to improve safety through the Right To Ask Scheme. Further the NSW government is committed to reducing domestic and family violence, by holding perpetrators accountable and improving safety for victim-survivors.
“The Right To Ask Scheme will provide the opportunity for NSW Police to disclose information to a person who is a potential victim of domestic abuse about their partner’s previous abusive or violent offending.”
The Right to Ask scheme will enable the opportunity to disclose information through a hotline or online portal for a person who is a potential victim of domestic and family violence about their partner’s previous abusive or violent offending. The scheme will be designed with input from domestic violence organisations and will also facilitate a referral to domestic violence support services where required.
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