National Cabinet Tackles Violence Against Women: Offender Register, Monitoring, and Online Safety Initiatives
May 1, 2024State leaders are convening at a national cabinet meeting to address violence against women, with discussions on implementing a national register for offenders, electronic monitoring, and coordinated intelligence on serial offenders.
The South Australian government's electronic tracking scheme for violent offenders will be a point of focus, serving as a potential model for national implementation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is exploring strategies to restrict access to violent and misogynistic online content, including age-verification systems for enhancing online safety.
An uptick in intimate partner violence statistics is driving the urgency for continuous evaluation and updates to the national plan on violence against women.
Proposed actions include tightening bail laws, increasing funding for victim support services, and implementing state-specific measures like South Australia's electronic tracking for bail compliance.
Crossbench MPs advocate for a multifaceted approach, including tackling violent online content, revising sentencing, providing legal aid for women, securing funds for frontline services, and hiring more domestic violence support workers.
The meeting will also address related issues such as reducing alcohol-related harm, expanding safe housing for women, and ensuring states meet commitments to recruit domestic violence support staff.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles has declared a $36 million funding increase for domestic violence services, with other states expected to outline their initiatives to combat violence against women.
The national cabinet meeting aims to foster collaborative and immediate efforts among leaders to tackle the pervasive issue of violence against women in Australia.
Summary based on 3 sources
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Sources
ABC News • Apr 29, 2024
National cabinet will meet tomorrow to discuss violence against women. Here's what to expectThe Sydney Morning Herald • Apr 30, 2024
Leaders weigh plan to track domestic violence offendersThe Age • Apr 30, 2024
Leaders weigh plan to track domestic violence offenders