Daily London
The South Australian government has announced it will adopt almost all of the 136 recommendations made by the state’s harrowing royal commission into domestic violence.
The moves will see the government invest $674 million into combating domestic and family violence.
“This is the single biggest new money investment that we have seen to tackle this challenge in our state’s history,” Premier Peter Malinauskas said.
The allocated funding will support several initiatives, including the establishment of a 100-strong police unit dedicated to addressing domestic violence, led by an assistant commissioner.
A 24/7 support centre will also be created, and the number of public housing properties available to victims will be doubled.
The announcement comes two years after a week in South Australia when four women were killed by men.
“That was a heartbreaking week, a week that demanded more action,” Minister for Women Katrine Hildyard said.
Of the 136 recommendations put forward, 129 are slated for implementation.
The only ones to be rejected were the changes associated with smacking a child.
“We don’t want people for a moment exercising unnecessary caution in those legitimate circumstances because an intervention of government,” Malinauskas said.
The government has allowed 10 years to implement the changes, although some measures have already been enacted, with Hilyard taking on a new family, domestic and sexual violence portfolio.
“We will be acting with haste where we can, but patience where we must,” Malinauskas said.
