A national database of domestic violence offenders and new laws to crack down on perpetrators who use mobile phones to cause a victim fear would be created under a Liberal-National federal government.
The proposals form part of the Coalition’s long-awaited $90 million domestic violence strategy.
Despite men’s violence against women being described as a “national crisis” throughout this term of parliament, given the horrific spike in killings, neither of the major parties has put a big spotlight on the issue.
That’s also despite the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner last year urging politicians to put the issue front and centre in the campaign.
According to the Coalition, a National Domestic Violence Register would allow police and other agencies to access and share details of a person’s previous family violence convictions, but it would not be publicly available.
It follows a promise earlier this week to trial a national child sex offender disclosure scheme that would allow parents to request if someone working with their child has a history in child abuse.
Under the proposal, new domestic violence offences would also be created that would make it a crime to use mobile phones to cause an intimate partner or family member to fear for their personal safety.
This would include cracking down on perpetrators using spyware to track victims or engaging in coercive behaviours.
The Coalition said its strategy focused on prevention, early intervention and crisis response.
Deputy Liberal leader and shadow minister for women Sussan Ley said there was “a lack of urgency” in addressing family and domestic violence under Labor.
“As a Coalition, we know violence can be at the end of a chain of events across someone’s life,” she said.
“And we know that with the right decisions and the right interventions we can break the cycle and save victim-survivors not only from the most extreme end of violence, but also from disrespectful behaviour and coercion.
“If we get this right our society will be a safer, happier and healthier place.”
Funded as part of the strategy, the Coalition would also launch its controversial royal commission into sexual abuse in Indigenous communities.
Advocacy groups have widely rejected the potential royal commission, noting it plays into negative perceptions of Indigenous people.
Coalition under scrutiny
The Coalition has been under scrutiny for continuing to release policies towards the end of the campaign, given hundreds of thousands of Australians have already voted early.
On Wednesday, after more than half a million voters had already cast their ballot, Liberal leader Peter Dutton unveiled a major announcement to boost defence spending by $21 billion in five years.
Adding to its series of late policy announcements, the opposition has also proposed to create a $100 million grants program to fund regional boarding school infrastructure and create up to 660 new places, primarily for Indigenous students.
Shadow education minister Sarah Henderson said it would help provide better access to First Nations students living remotely and improve student outcomes.
“Boarding schools provide vital access to education for Indigenous students living in remote communities,” she said.
