Eastern Victoria Region
Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (14:17): (975) First I would just like to thank Abbie McCrimmon, who did some research in my office while she did work experience, so she did some research into this. My question is for the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, and it concerns breaches of family violence orders in my electorate. This breach is one of the most heavily committed in the Eastern Victoria Region. Last year in Pakenham – which ranks seventh highest by the way – there were 267 breaches of family violence orders. In Morwell, which was the fourth ranking, there were 321 breaches, and in Traralgon there were 249 breaches. Only 40 per cent of these breaches have resulted in imprisonment, and the majority have been just adjourned and nothing has happened. So my question is: what is the minister doing to counteract this, and what is she doing to protect the innocent victims that are not being protected by the law or this government?