Region’s domestic violence blight a 'shocking result'
REFUGE
DOUGLAS Shire Mayor Julia Leu said it was a 'shocking result’ the region ranked second in Queensland for reported domestic violence.
Just a week after a Port Douglas woman was allegedly kidnapped by her ex partner - who has been charged with a string of offences including attempted murder - Leu said it was time to provide proper support to victims in one of the state’s hotspots.
Leu said figures tabled in a special council brief showed Douglas was behind only Mt Isa as the worst area in Queensland for domestic violence.
“This is a shocking result,” she said.
“The research shows, and the work that has gone into this report, details quite clearly that domestic violence affects all sectors of the community in the Douglas Shire.”
It has prompted Mayor Leu to call for a meeting with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, where she will ask for funding to help build a domestic violence refuge in the Shire.
The facility hopes to provide relief for victims and their children, with access to a hub of support services.
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“We as a community, Council, the police, community organisations, the Eldest Justice Group are calling on the government to assist us in providing funds for a domestic violence refuge shelter,” Leu said.
“The real problem for us without having a domestic violence refuge is that women and children escaping violence are forced to leave Douglas Shire, and that means, particularly for women, they leave their jobs, they leave their support networks.
“The children have to leave schools, and so it’s an appalling situation for them.”
A special Domestic and Family Violence Refuge Brief, released by council yesterday, showed both Mossman and Port Douglas were unusually high for reported domestic violence cases. It also outlines detailed plans for the refuge.
“The current service model is inadequate and ineffective at bringing about long-term change against a complex and pervasive social problem,” Leu said of the lack of current support.
“As a community we’re calling on the State and Federal Governments to join us at the table and help us address this awful situation, not in a few months or next year, but right now.”
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