Domestic violence survivors report buried by Queensland government
A report to the Queensland government by a group of domestic violence survivors calling for a civilian review system for complaints about inadequate police response has been kept secret.
The Lived Experience Working Group was convened by Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Amanda Camm in February 2025 and was tasked with meeting three times before presenting a report on how victims have navigated these gaps.
Originally reported by GuardDespite consistent messages from the government to prioritize victims, the report did not see the light of day.
Revealing a fragmented system riddled with procedural and cultural barriers, a summary of the final report was distributed to government bodies and key stakeholders but not made public.
In the footnote of the summary report seen in this imprint, it was stated that the confidentiality of the working group members was stated as a reason for the report not being made public.
“Key challenges identified include inconsistent police and legal responses, lack of culturally safe and trauma-informed practices, weaponization of service systems against victim survivors by violent individuals, housing and financial insecurity, and inadequate support,” the brief’s executive summary says.
The most detailed section of the report targeted the Queensland Police Service, which it claimed responded inconsistently to domestic violence complaints.
These responses led to “the perception that outcomes depended on the officer involved,” the author said, adding that group members were deterred from escalating complaints about police they felt did not take their concerns seriously.
The group has proposed a “civilian review mechanism” that would monitor the escalation of these concerns.
Victims and survivors in the group were frustrated by delays in charging for DVO breaches, where perpetrators had regular and predictable routines, leading to a lack of confidence in the police force’s ability to bring them to safety.
The roles of child protection, mental health supports, housing and financial security, the legal system and specialist DVF services were also analyzed by the group.
The group found that victims “extremely describe their experiences of being ignored, not taken seriously and relegated to fringes” and that the onus is on them to find the support they need.
Since the group was gathered, Queensland police have disbanded their specialist domestic violence unit. Thinking that case management is not “core work”.
This decision comes after a 100-day review of police operations found a significant “duty failure” within the service.
Responding to questions about the group’s report, Camm said the government was tackling the problem by providing record investment, shelters, affordable housing and more police.
“The Crisafulli government has been a voice for victims of domestic and family violence and has prioritized fixing the deteriorating services we inherited from the previous government,” he said.
“For example, our government increased the response rate for DV Connect from 41.9 per cent under Labor to 84 per cent.”
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