To inquire into and report, on:

1. the adequacy and effectiveness of current policy approaches^[1] and responses in preventing and responding to domestic and family violence in the ACT;
2. the implementation of the ACT Government’s 2016–17 funding commitments to prevent and respond to domestic and family violence in the ACT^[2], in particular how outcomes are being measured;
3. the issues and policy challenges (if any) for the ACT arising from the National funding and agenda/policy setting regime/framework—including how outcomes are measured and reported;
4. best practice policy approaches and responses being undertaken in other jurisdictions to prevent and/or respond to domestic and family violence; and
5. any other related matters.

The Committee notes that it has a broad public interest mandate and is not in a position to determine the rights and wrongs of individual cases. The Committee process is not a forum to resolve issues pertaining solely to individual cases or grievances but is a forum to explore the general matters of principle, policy or public administration relevant to the terms of reference.  The Committee will be confining its inquiry to the terms of reference.

The Committee will be calling for submissions to its inquiry shortly and is intending to commence holding public hearings in September/October 2017. The Committee is expecting to report to the Assembly as soon as practicable.

8 May 2017

^[1] Policy approaches can include: primary prevention and community attitude campaigns; integrated intervention programs; mass-screening programs; programs for violence perpetrators; programs for victims who have been subject to domestic violence; legislative approaches; and criminal justice approaches.

^[2] The 2016–17 Budget, delivered on 6 June 2016, included a $21.4 million domestic violence package—referred to as Safer Families. This initiative targets a number of areas, with an overall objective to ‘drive the next phase of reform in whole of government, community-backed responses to family violence’. It introduces new aspects to service integration and coordination in the ACT in a formal response to three commissioned reports on family violence in the Territory.

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Terms of reference	PDF (154.1 KB)	Word (89.0 KB)

View Committee hearings transcripts

Go to current public hearings schedules

Public Hearings (Completed):

• 23 November 2017
• 8 February 2018
• 8 March 2018
• 15 March 2018
• 27 March 2018
• 3 April 2018
• 3 May 2018
• 15 May 2018

The Committee received comment from the Restorative Justice Unit (RJU) regarding pages 28–30 of its discussion paper.  The response to the discussion paper as received from the RJU is attached.

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Discussion Paper - Domestic and Family Violence: Policy approaches and responses	PDF (432.3 KB)	Word (1.9 MB)
Discussion Paper - Comment from Restorative Justice Unit	PDF (159.9 KB)