Taking guidance from a NSW initiative, Rachel asked the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence to establish a publicly accessible database of homicides occurring in the context of an identifiable history of family violence in Victoria.
Rachel did not get a chance to raise this matter in parliament, so her speech has instead been presented to the Minister to provide a written response.
Wednesday the 17th of June 2026,
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister Horne.
The NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team (DVDRT) has just launched a new website that provides detailed insight into homicides in NSW.
This is an independent group led by the State Coroner and made up of government representatives, community sector experts, and frontline workers who respond to family violence.
This dashboard is the first platform of its kind in Australia.
It provides easy access to specialist information about domestic violence-related deaths, including where these deaths most often occur, and the people most likely to be responsible for them.
An Australian-born, non-Indigenous man in his early 30s armed with a knife is the average type of domestic violence (DV) homicide offender, according to data released on this platform.
Cases reviewed by the DVDRT show that, over the past 26 years, nearly 300 women have been killed by a current or former intimate partner in relationships with a known history of domestic violence.
Of these women, 99 per cent were the primary domestic violence victims throughout their relationship.
Since 2000, 134 children and young people, and 208 other individuals have been killed in a DV-related death in NSW.
Preventing domestic and family violence depends on having strong and reliable data. Every piece of information helps us understand where action is needed most to stop violence before it happens.
By collecting and sharing data, evidence and information, we can help improve responses to violence and support efforts to prevent the deaths of women and children.
Family violence in Victoria is increasing and directly effects one in five Victorian women over the course of their lifetime.
It is the leading contributor to preventable death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15 to 44 years.
We must strengthen our understanding of family violence to ensure that the safety, needs and experience of victims remain at the centre of our response.
Better data can help us to identify patterns, warning signs and identify risk factors associated with serious harm or fatalities.
No loss of life is acceptable, and every death must prompt our attention and commitment to change.
So, the action I seek is for the Minister to establish a publicly accessible data dashboard, similar to that developed by the NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team, to provide detailed information and insights into homicides occurring in the context of an identifiable history of family violence in Victoria.
[Written response pending]
Related:
- Alexis family violence response model – Rachel Payne
- ‘No excuse’ to ignore preventable gendered violence – Rachel Payne
- Misidentification of family violence aggressors – Rachel Payne
- Police responses to family and domestic violence – Rachel Payne
- South-east MP welcomes funds to support domestic violence survivors in the Victorian budget – Rachel Payne
