By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A RESPECTED Casey pastor and Challenge Family Violence mentor has welcomed the new Victorian Government’s proposal for a Royal Commission into Family Violence.
Premier Daniel Andrews released the proposed terms of reference for the Royal Commission on Monday.
Pastor Graeme Cann, from the Casey Pastors Network, said the investigation was “desperately needed”.
“If only to continue to put the size of the problem before the Australian public,” he said.
“There’s always going to be a need for caring and supporting victims and hopefully there will be a focus on them throughout the commission.
“The big thing is how we can decrease the numbers of people being abused, and not just abused but killed on a regular basis.”
The Andrews Government’s proposed terms of reference outline an investigation into the most effective ways to prevent family violence, the most effective ways to improve early intervention to identify and protect those at risk, the most effective ways to make perpetrators accountable, and the most effective ways to improve how government and society work together.
“There’s a long way to go to hold people appropriately accountable,” Pastor Cann said.
“I also think there is a need to look at what we do with people incarcerated for domestic violence. I think it all fits with the issue of changing the attitudes that lie at the basis of family violence.
“The Royal Commission is another great step forward.”
It’s understood there were more than 3700 family violence incidents reported in the City of Casey in 2014 – the highest in the state by just under 1000 incidents.
Last year the News ran a month-long White Ribbon campaign throughout November, in conjunction with the Casey Council’s Challenge Family Violence project.
For more information, visit www.whiteribbon.org.au.
