By Aaron Cordy
FAMILY violence, domestic violence and violence against women are a black mark on the Australian culture, marring the belief that we are a lucky country for one in four Australian women.
2,436 Family Violence Order breaches were recorded to the year ending December 2024. This equates to roughly six times a day women and children are put in danger by an ex-partner, and the police must get involved.
The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, has called on the Minister for Police and the Minister for Community Safety, Anthony Carbines, in Parliament to address the significant police shortages impacted by the rise in family violence in the Shepparton District and is calling for a Dedicated Family Violence Response Team and increased Police for the Shepparton Station.
“I recently met with Shepparton Superintendent Brett Kahan who said that up to 75 per cent of policing resources can be taken up by family violence incidents, reducing the capacity to attend other matters,” said Ms O’Keeffe.
“Superintendent Kahan spoke strongly on need for more staff for the Shepparton Station indicating the requirement for an additional six officers and two sergeants to be added to a dedicated ‘Family Violence Response Team. This would be a new model dedicated to address family violence.
“The statistics speak for themselves, and we need to have a higher level of support and resources to what we curranty have for our police. Breach of family violence orders now sits as the number one crime in Shepparton.
“I have also contacted the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Natalie Hutchins requesting her support to address the alarming rise in Family Violence and to support the need for a Dedicated Family Violence Response Team and increased Police for the Shepparton Station. The rise in family violence is a clear indication of the desperate need.
“Family violence incidents in Greater Shepparton have increased by an alarming 31.3 per cent with this number expected to rise.
While more police stationed in Shepparton would be greatly welcomed, earlier this year, Shepparton became home to the Multidisciplinary Centre where specialist police and support services are housed under one roof for victims of sexual offences, child abuse and family violence.
If you or someone close to you discloses they are a victim of sexual offences or family violence, please believe them and encourage them to contact the police or a support service.
