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.
While Rachel agreed upon the temporary measure to support Victoria Police at a time of police shortage, she reiterated several long-term solutions that would free up police time and resources.
Rachel asked the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence if they will extend the Alexis family violence response model program to the City of Casey.
Rachel presented a member’s statement, reflecting on the 16 days of activism against family and intimate partner violence. She spoke about the tragic murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children by their respective partner and father, with police ignoring multiple reports of violence and abuse until it was too late. Rachel calls on the government to direct their ‘tough on crime’ approach to address the systemic failures that lead to these tragic but preventable consequences.
Rachel spoke on a family violence motion which would create a standalone offence for coercive control. She acknowledged the deeply disturbing prevalence of family and intimate partner violence, and its well-established connection with coercive control. Rachel spoke to the evidence arising from stakeholder consultation and law changes in New South Wales, noting that effectiveness of a standalone offence is contentious and could be underutilised or otherwise cause harmful, unintended consequences.
Rachel second read her private member’s bill, the Summary Offences Amendment (Begging) Bill 2025. If passed, this bill would decriminalise begging in Victoria. Rachel presented the bill’s compatibility with the Human Rights Charter, before speaking to the intersecting factors which cause people to beg for survival. Rachel urges the government to shift from a criminal justice response to begging, to a public health response.
Begging is a criminal offence in Victoria. It is punishable by up to twelve months in prison. In the most progressive state, in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, you can go to prison for being poor.
Rachel asked about family violence aggressor misidentification. With reforms underway to address misidentification of the predominant aggressor in family violence intervention order applications, Rachel inquired about data collection to track the prevalence of occurrences and success of proposed reforms.
This year, over 7000 family and domestic violence incidents have been reported in Casey to date. Rachel asks for assurance that the Safe at Home initiative can be rolled out in areas of highest need – including the City of Casey – as soon as successfully proven.
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.
