Victorian systemic review of family violence deaths
Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (13:57): (588) My question is for the Attorney-General. Attorney, I recently wrote to you – and I also note it was recently covered in the Age – about the underfunding of Victoria’s Coroners Court, especially the Victorian systemic review of family violence deaths unit, VSRFVD. This unit examines deaths suspected to have resulted from family violence. The underfunding of this unit means that investigations of family violence matters are significantly delayed. It can take upwards of a year for proceedings to commence from the time the matter is referred to the court. If the matter proceeds to an inquest, the timeframe for finalisation and delivery of recommendations can be blown out to several years. The delays are very emotionally distressing for families, and they have to live with the fact that the systemic failures which contributed to the death of their loved one continue to impact the community as they await recommendations from the coroner. Attorney, will the government fully and sustainably fund the review unit so that the coroner can investigate all family violence matters in a timely manner?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:58): I thank Dr Ratnam for her question and for bringing to the house’s attention the systemic review unit within the Coroners Court. This is a unit particularly in relation to family violence matters that was established under the previous Labor government when I was the family violence policy adviser. Unfortunately, for four years it was removed from operation because the coalition did not see fit to have it remain in operation, and we reinstated it when we were re-elected in 2014.
It is important work that it does, but I do need to point out that it is systemic work that it does – it does not replace the coronial process for individual matters that are appropriate for the mainstream coronial process. I am in ongoing conversations with the Coroners Court in relation to their practices, this unit and indeed how it fits in with the broader government’s agenda in addressing women’s safety, and I will have more to say in due course.
Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (13:59): Thank you very much, Attorney. I appreciate the follow-up, and just noting while it is a systemic review, there are families who are awaiting the findings and recommendations of that review to pursue further action for justice. The last dedicated funding boost for the review unit was provided in 2018, where the unit’s case load had doubled from 30 to 60 cases a year. In 2020 the case load was 100 deaths. The unit team has not grown since 2018, while the complexity of many of the matters has increased – it is no wonder that these delays have grown to such a dire extent. Minister, is the government monitoring the extent of the delays in investigations and the impact on families, and when can we expect investigations to begin more quickly?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (13:59): I thank Dr Ratnam for her supplementary question. I think I answered it reasonably directly in response to her first question. Of course we reiterate that when there are women that are dying at the hands of men, we need to do more. We know that it is increasing, and we know that as a whole-of-government approach there are many ministers that are committed to addressing this issue in our community.
I just do want to take issue with some of the information that you have put on the record in relation to declining funding to the Coroners Court, and I do want to put on record that that is not accurate. Funding for the Coroners Court has not declined. It has increased year on year since 2020. We will continue to support the Coroners Court to help families and loved ones get the answers they need in relation to untimely, unacceptable and preventable deaths in particular and identify ways to make Victorians safer.