Across Western Australia, domestic violence cases have surged, rising by a staggering 76% since 2017.

While recent awareness campaigns are seeing more people report instances of FDV, the significant rise in cases shows our current mechanisms aren’t working to drive down incidents.

Across the globe, we are seeing world-first initiatives that have improved police and judicial responses to FDV.

Clare’s Law, the first Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) internationally, was rolled out across England and Wales in March 2014.  

The law was designed to provide information that might help protect someone from being a victim of domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) enables police to disclose information to a victim or potential victim of domestic abuse about their partner’s or ex-partner’s previous abusive or violent offending.

The scheme was based on the police’s common law power to disclose information where it is necessary to prevent crime, and has been adopted in Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand and some other Australian jurisdictions.

In countries such as the United Kingdom and in the United States, we are also seeing specialised domestic violence units, providing dedicated support and streamlining services to address FDV, guiding victim-survivors through the justice system and beyond.

Such a unit would provide for officers working to aid victim-survivors from their first interaction with police, until their last, and work with other members of the unit to coordinate resources, other government agencies, and provide comprehensive support to those in need.

The WA Liberals know victim-survivors and future victims need to know that their concerns and experiences are being heard and taken seriously.

Both of these initiatives would mark a significant step forward in the fight against domestic violence, providing a more focused, information-driven, and compassionate approach to supporting victim-survivors, potential victims, and to holding perpetrators accountable.

Only a WA Liberal Government will prioritise their establishment.

The WA Liberals believe we need more transparency and dedicated support to address the prevalence of family and domestic violence.

Too often we hear from those in the community that they could see the signs of domestic violence but were powerless to do anything – no longer will this be the case.

A WA Liberal Government will introduce a domestic violence disclosure scheme for WA, and create a specialist FDV team within the Department of Justice.

Under the FDV disclosure scheme, an individual living with violence, someone with reason to feel risk, or a family member, can apply for information about whether a person has a documented history of domestic violence.

This scheme would empower individuals at risk and their support networks to make informed decisions about their safety.

Establishing a specialised Family Violence Unit within the Department of Justice would significantly enhance the response to domestic violence through dedicated resources and expertise.

This unit would be staffed with a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including domestic violence officers, social workers, legal experts, and psychologists, all receiving extensive and ongoing training in handling domestic violence cases.

An integrated police response team within the unit would ensure sensitive and expert handling of incidents, while seamless coordination with other agencies, like child protection services and healthcare providers, would offer comprehensive support for victims.

This unit would aid the disclosure system by creating a robust FDV management system, allowing the unit to track progress, provide outreach and prevention programs to raise awareness, and offer a range of support services, including counselling and legal assistance.

Western Australians deserve a government that will take proactive steps to support victims of family and domestic violence, ensuring that their needs are at the forefront of the responses from police and the justice system.

Only the WA Liberal Party is committed to addressing the alarming increase in rates of family and domestic violence in WA.