Terms of Reference for New Inquiry into Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Finalised

05/06/2020

A new parliamentary inquiry has been established to inquire into family, domestic, and sexual violence. The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will examine how governments and the community can prevent violence against women and their children and better support those most at risk, and is now inviting submissions.

The Association supports amendments that have been made this week to the inquiry’s draft Terms of Reference that promote a focus on the importance of accessibility of services and policy responses, including the significance of legal services, to assist women to escape domestic and family violence.

The amendments clarify the importance of considering both qualitative and quantitative data to better understand the experiences of survivors of family violence. These also expand the terms of reference to include the impacts of natural disasters and other significant events, as well as COVID-19, on the prevalence of domestic violence and provision of support services.

The finalised Terms of Reference are available here. The Association’s Family Law Committee will prepare a submission to the inquiry in due course.