Northern Victoria Region family violence services
Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (12:24): My question is to the Attorney-General regarding the urgent need in north-east Victoria for a Specialist Family Violence Court and legal aid office. Yesterday I was joined by stakeholders from the north-east for a round table to discuss the incidence of family violence in the region and what they see at the coalface. They report a significant increase in family violence in the last year, especially high-risk situations, and there is an overwhelming call for a specialist court and legal aid office from them. Attorney, when we met recently and I raised this with you, you said to me, and I quote, ‘Every area wants a Specialist Family Violence Court’, and we know why. These specialist courts deliver tailored support and help victim-survivors seek justice in a safe and meaningful way. The round table recognised that demand is strong for family law services across the community of 140 000 people. We are establishing an advisory group and would like to meet with you to discuss the need in the region, so my question is: will you meet this advocacy group with me during October, hear their views and advise their bid for a family violence court and a legal aid office in the north-east?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:25): I thank Ms Maxwell for her question. At the outset there are multiple ministers that have responsibility for family violence in our government, and with good reason, because we are leading the nation when it comes to family violence response and family violence investment. There is no other state that is even close to the efforts that we have made in relation to family violence. We have made it a priority and it continues to be so. A little bit like the law reform that I referred to before, there is always going to be more to do.
In relation to the north-east, I did note that you had a round table yesterday—very familiar faces, obviously, as someone who has represented the region for eight years and had a lot to do with the people that you met with. I am related to people that work in this industry based in Wangaratta as well, so in terms of the issues that you raise, they are all too familiar to me as Attorney-General, as a member for Northern Victoria and in a personal capacity as a topic of issue for that region. Of course it has been something that is very important to me—access to services in regional Victoria—given that I am very familiar with that region. It is where I grew up and it is where I live.
The royal commission’s recommendations around Specialist Family Violence Courts are targeted at headquarter courts, being the courts in each region with the highest volume of matters, and we are progressively rolling these out as a priority. I really like going to the courts and talking to those that have been gazetted as Specialist Family Violence Courts, because there is such passion from the people that work in our Magistrates Courts in relation to wanting better services for victims of family violence—simple things such as separate entries and waiting rooms, places for the kids to be looked after et cetera. This is all about creating a system that is victim focused and supporting particularly women who are victims of family violence.
In relation to the region, the Shepparton Specialist Family Violence Court is currently operational and further Magistrates Courts around the state have some aspects of specialist family violence services. In terms of your quote of me in a private meeting, which is a bit unusual, of course I would love to put a Specialist Family Violence Court in every Magistrates Court in the state, but I am confined by the reality of what you can deliver in government. But I think our record speaks for itself in the fact that we are out there spending more money on this than any other state and will continue to do so.
I do want to note that there are important, dedicated services in the north-east. I have met with the Hume Riverina Community Legal Service, for example—fantastic, passionate people—and of course a lot of their business is family violence, unfortunately. They do a fantastic job in their support of victim-survivors of family violence. Many people might know that there is an Orange Door network in the Ovens-Murray area that commenced operation in August 2021, and it provides services for people experiencing family violence across several areas, including Wodonga, Wangaratta and Benalla. My department, Victoria Legal Aid and legal assistance sector partners do monitor the legal need across Victoria— (Time expired)
Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (12:28): Thank you, Attorney. You did not actually get to answer the question. When the Specialist Family Violence Courts were rolled out in 2019, an important component was co-located legal and community services. This is important for providing holistic support, but it seems they are not a guarantee for the rest of the Specialist Family Violence Courts. Can you confirm if the government will continue to fund and co-locate legal and community services with Specialist Family Violence Courts to ensure victim-survivors have access to the support that they need?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:29): It is difficult with small amounts of time to answer with great detail on these important matters, but in relation to the co-location of services I am not in a position to predict future budgets, Ms Maxwell, so I cannot give strong commitments around that. I think in general I like co-located services but I also do like to be informed by the people that provide those services on the ground. Making sure that they are in the one building works for some people, but some people prefer that the services be provided in a neighbouring-type facility because there are many people that like to access the services but are fearful of courts, for example, and that is particularly relevant for people from non-English-speaking backgrounds who would be much more comfortable accessing services that are not within court buildings.