Give a Voice to Victims Who Can’t Speak: Establish a National Domestic Violence Reporting Hotline

To the Australian Government,

What about the victim who cannot report the violence?

The victim who is too frightened. Too controlled. Too isolated. The victim whose phone is monitored, whose movements are controlled, or who knows that reporting the abuse could place them in even greater danger.

What about the victim who did speak up but wasn’t believed?

Or the victim who tried to report what was happening, but felt their concerns were not formally recorded?

And what happens when that victim dies and their family is told:

“There was no known history of domestic violence.”

No known history does not necessarily mean there was no violence. Sometimes it means the violence was never documented.

Australia already has 1800RESPECT, a federally funded national service providing counselling, information and support to people experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence, as well as people supporting them. 

We are calling for something different and complementary: a nationally coordinated domestic and family violence reporting pathway where third parties can formally report concerning incidents and patterns they witness.

Neighbours hear the screaming. Family members see the bruises. Friends notice the coercive control. Teachers, health professionals and community workers may see warning signs.

They should have somewhere appropriate to report those concerns.

Such a system would need strong safeguards for privacy, malicious or false reports, victim safety, information sharing and appropriate referral to state and territory authorities. But its purpose should be simple: to help ensure warning signs do not disappear simply because the victim is unable, too afraid, or not believed when they try to speak.

The Australian Government’s National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032 recognises prevention, early intervention, response, recovery and healing as interconnected parts of addressing gender-based violence. 

 

We call on the Federal Government, in partnership with states and territories, domestic violence specialists, police and victim-survivors, to investigate and establish a National Domestic Violence Reporting Hotline and secure reporting system that allows community members and professionals to document concerns and ensures appropriate information can be referred to relevant authorities.

A victim should not have to be their own only witness.

Because “no known history of violence” should never again simply mean that no one had somewhere to record what they saw.