Rachel questioned the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence about police responses to family and domestic violence incidents. Highlighting issues of police misconduct, police-perpetrated family violence, and self-investigation, Rachel asked if the Minister will push for increased funding for community-led responses and an end to police self-investigation.
Tuesday the 12th of August, 2025
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
Substantive question:
My question is for the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, represented in this place by the Minister for Children.
The beyond survival project’s new report highlights the harm caused by police responses to family violence. It finds widespread misidentification of victim-survivors, collusion with perpetrators, discrimination, racial targeting and police-perpetrated family violence. It also finds that community-based response pathways for victim-survivors are urgently needed to reduce these kinds of harms. A shift away from police as primary responders and an investment in community-based alternatives will help prioritise survivor-led responses grounded in principles of community accountability.
So my question is: will the minister push for increased funding to community-led family violence responses?
Lizzie Blandthorn (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability):
Substantive response:
I thank Ms Payne for her question for the minister responsible for the prevention of family violence, and I would be pleased to pass that to her for a response.
Rachel Payne:
Supplementary question:
I thank the minister for referring that one on. By way of supplementary, complaints about police perpetrators often end up with Victoria Police for investigation. This fails to address conflicts of interest and puts victim-survivors at risk. So I ask: will the minister call for an end to these kinds of self-investigative police complaints programs?
Lizzie Blandthorn:
Supplementary response:
I thank Ms Payne for her supplementary question, and I will refer it to the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, who may also consult with the Attorney-General so far as is relevant.
Written response received, 14th of August 2025:
The Victorian Government is continuing to deliver and strengthen culturally safe, accessible family violence responses and remains committed to working with the community to build on this approach.
The 2025-26 State Budget provided $123.2 million to prevent and respond to family and sexual violence, with funding provided to local and state-wide specialist family violence services that are embedded and connected to their communities throughout Victoria.
Guided by the Aboriginal-led Dhelk Dja 10-year Partnership Agreement, the Victorian Government is committed to investment in family violence responses delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), to ensure First Nations people impacted by family violence can access culturally safe and appropriate responses. We are committed to working in partnership with the Dhelk Dja Partnership Forum, made up of representatives of Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal organisations and government, to continue to build on this work.
The Victorian Government is enhancing culturally responsive family violence responses for multicultural communities through targeted initiatives. This includes funding for inTouch to build capability in organisations supporting migrant and refugee women, and the expanded Working Together program to strengthen partnerships between multicultural community organisations and family violence and sexual assault services. Multicultural advisory groups operate in high-needs areas to address local priorities and the $108 million investment in Strengthening Women’s Safety Package includes boosted funding for case management for multicultural communities and victim survivors.
We know preventing violence before it starts reduces pressure on crisis responses, and that is why the 2025-26 State Budget provides for ongoing funding to deliver prevention and early intervention work with multicultural and multifaith communities. This builds on the Supporting Multicultural and Faith Communities to Prevent Family Violence program, designed and delivered by multicultural and faith-based organisations, ensuring culturally responsive prevention and early intervention activities that reflect community needs and priorities.
We are also addressing the serious issue of misidentification of the predominant aggressor or perpetrator, which can have devastating consequences. Through the nation leading Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) Framework, we provide tools, guidance, training and information sharing reforms to help professionals, including police, to accurately identify the predominant aggressor and respond appropriately. This includes support for professionals to rectify records where misidentification has occurred, to support victim survivors safety and recovery, and perpetrator accountability. The 2025-26 State Budget provided $40.1 million to support workforces to understand their responsibilities to work safely with victim survivors and perpetrators to understand presenting risk and where misidentification may have occurred.
The Government expects all allegations about police conduct to be taken seriously and supports the role of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in investigating serious misconduct, ensuring complaint processes maintain public confidence and deliver just outcomes. Any further questions about Victoria Police processes should be directed to the Minister for Police.
The Hon. Natalie Hutchins MP
Minister for Prevention of Family Violence
Related:
> Establish a family violence taskforce – Rachel Payne
> South-East taskforce needed to stop region’s family violence epidemic – Rachel Payne
> South-east MP welcomes funds to support domestic violence survivors in the Victorian budget – Rachel Payne
> Rise in family violence intervention order breaches – Rachel Payne
> Gendered Violence staffing in Victoria – Rachel Payne
> Getting Explicit – Rachel Payne
> Family and Intimate Partner Violence – Rachel Payne
