A call to establish a permanent joint parliamentary committee to tackle domestic, family and sexual violence in Tasmania has been applauded by the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre, which is urging New South Wales parliament to adopt a similar approach.
Tasmania Greens MP Tabatha Badger announced the proposal following Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data revealing Tasmania has the highest rate of intimate partner violence in the country. She hopes the committee will unite members from both houses to deliver sustained, bipartisan oversight.
Sally Stevenson, Executive Director of the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre, welcomed the initiative, noting she has long advocated for a similar committee at the federal level and would strongly champion its adoption by the NSW Government.
NSW’s domestic, family and sexual violence statistics reveal a crisis that cannot be addressed with short-term measures, even with the NSW Government’s recently announced $227m legal reform package.
According to BOCSAR, domestic violence assaults have risen by an average of 3.6% annually between 2019 and 2023, while sexual assaults have surged by over 10% each year. The ABS Personal Safety Survey shows that 37% of NSW women have experienced violence from a partner since age 15, highlighting the scale of the problem.
Despite these alarming figures, BOCSAR’s victimisation survey found that only 54% of victims report incidents to police, meaning the true extent is likely much greater.
“These findings underscore the urgent need for systemic, sustained action – the kind of long-term oversight a permanent parliamentary committee could provide,” Ms Stevenson said.
NSW has previously attempted to address DFV through parliamentary processes, but these efforts have been temporary.
The Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control (2020-21) made groundbreaking recommendations that led to the criminalisation of coercive control.
Similarly, the Standing Committee on Social Issues conducted an inquiry in 2011-12, urging systemic reforms across policing, courts, and support services.
Both produced valuable outcomes, but lacked ongoing mandates to monitor implementation or hold successive governments accountable.
“This is the crucial gap Tasmania’s proposal addresses,” said Ms Stevenson.
“A permanent committee ensures continuity beyond electoral cycles, protecting policy development from the volatility of politics.”
“With domestic, family and sexual violence rates climbing, courts under strain, and services collapsing, NSW can no longer rely on ad-hoc inquiries. By following Tasmania’s lead, NSW has an opportunity to institutionalise long-term oversight and drive transformative change that goes beyond funding announcements.”
The Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre is a place for women to heal and rebuild their lives if they have or are experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence.
If you would like to discuss our services with the team, please contact us on 4243 9800.